It’s the final game of the season, and one where the Jets will be looking to take all three points and finish on a high.
We’ll welcome the Western Sydney Wanderers to Newcastle on the same weekend our respective Hyundai A-League counterparts clash down at ANZ Stadium.
ADELAIDE: A hard-fought three points in SA
After an inspiring, gutsy win in Adelaide last weekend, the girls are determined to back that up with a similar performance and result.
Here are five talking points we’ve picked out.
Back at No.2 Sportsground
It was to be our home ground this season for four of six games in Newcastle, but it didn’t quite work out that way.
Saturday night will see our second, and final, game of the season at No.2 Sportsground in this W-League campaign.
It was fortress Newy back when we played Perth in January, with nearly 2,000 turning out to support the girls – let’s aim for a similar figure this time around!
Battling injuries
It’s been the story of our season so far, and the line-up this weekend will once again be determined by the state of injuries amongst Craig Deans’ squad.
Gema Simon and Cortnee Vine were two who missed out last weekend through injury and illness respectively, while Larissa Crummer suffered that shock leg break.
The latter will be out for some time, but the jury is still out on Simon and Vine. Will they feature on Saturday?
Finishing off strong
It’s been a yo-yo type of season for the Jets, but the chance to string together back-to-back wins is a big carrot for Newcastle this weekend.
A spot in the finals is out of reach now, but we can finish as high as sixth with a victory – potentially our second of the season over the Wanderers.
Giving youth a chance
It’s been something of a necessity for Craig Deans this season, but once again on Saturday he’ll look to give youth a shot at impressing.
The likes of Tessa Tamplin, Teigan Collister, and Renee Pountney have been handed minutes this season and haven’t looked out of place in the country’s top division.
Joining them are the likes of Cortnee Vine, Pana Petratos, and Libby Copus-Brown, who have played their share of W-League football in season’s past but are really coming into their own in this iteration of the competition.
Sweet 16
Finals are out of reach for the Jets, but we could climb as high as fifth on the ladder by the time the final round of the Westfield W-League is done.
With goal difference to take into account though, sixth is a more achievable target and one wonders what could have been if it weren’t for a topsy-turvy season.
Injury has ruled six key players out throughout the season at various points, we’ve missed out on key points at key junctures, and a mid-table finish would rightly be considered a triumph given the season that’s been.
