Clare Wheeler has been named the Newcastle Jets Westfield W-League Player of the Year for the 2018/19 season.
In addition to her Player of the Year award, Wheeler has also won the Cheryl Salisbury Dedication Award for the second consecutive year.
One of only four Newcastle Jets to play and start in every match this Westfield W-League season, Wheeler went from strength to strength throughout 2018/19 and was one of the key cogs in Craig Deans’ side.
That was marked mainly by a sublime passing range – she topped the team in that particular column, making 459 passes at 75.8% across 12 games.
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Wheeler’s ability to break up play was also on full display in 2018/19, with a team-high 22 interceptions and 20 tackles won.
The Young Matilda marked herself out as a real leader in the middle of the park, standing tall following the departure of Westfield W-League 2017/18 Newcastle Jets Player of the Year, Tori Huster and the long-term injury absence of Westfield Matilda, Emily van Egmond.
The Player of the Year is an award selected by the Newcastle Jets coaching staff, and Westfield W-League Head Coach, Craig Deans, lauded the midfielder for her efforts.
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“Clare is the type of player whose hard work often goes unnoticed,” Deans said.
“She shields the defence superbly, is one of the best distributors of the ball in our side, and showed time and time again this season her ability to help us get forward and on the front foot.
“Further to that, she’s a fantastic person, a leader amongst the group despite her young age and a more than deserved winner of this award.
“It’s a good reward for her patience, determination, and resilience throughout her early years and she’s a shining example for all of the young girls coming through the ranks in our Academy.”
