Emily van Egmond headlines the Jets' 2012/13 squad | (Credit: Getty Images) Emily van Egmond headlines the Jets' 2012/13 squad | (Credit: Getty Images)

Returning Newcastle Jets coach Wayne O'Sullivan has unveiled his 20 player squad for the upcoming 2012/13 Season of the W-League.  The Jets squad see the return of some familiar names including former captain Hayley Crawford. 

"The squad we have selected is a balance of experience and youth which will enable us to play a high tempo technical style of football,” said O'Sullivan. 

"We recruited quality players that will continue to help us develop and also allow us to be competitive."  

Headlined by Matildas' midfielder Emily van Egmond, the Jets squad contains several local Newcastle born and bred players including Crawford, Sammara Schmitzer, Gemma Pearce and, now W-League veterans, Tara Andrews, Stacey Day and Gema Simon. 

Newcastle's imports are headlined by van Egmond's Western New York Flash teammates Angela Salem and Tori Husters as well as experienced Chicago Breeze midfielder Tiffany Boshers. 

“The large majority of the local girls who have come into this squad have either been involved with our NSWIS program or are actually involved with it now,” O’Sullivan explained.

“This allows us to fast track the development of the team from both a tactical and technical perspective. In addition to this, we are able to develop the positive culture that has been established over the past three years."

“We have both short and long term goals linked strongly to the Northern NSW vision of sustainability and development of pathways for local female players over the next three years and beyond."

Newcastle are on the road to Sydney FC for their first match of the season on Sunday October 21 at Leichardt Oval.  

Full Squad

1. Eliza CAMPBELL, 2. Hannah BREWER, 3. Hayley CRAWFORD, 4. Gemma PEARCE, 5. Tori HUSTER, 6. Angela SALEM, 7. Gema SIMON, 8. Madeline SEARL, 9. Tara ANDREWS, 10. Emily van EGMOND, 11. Kate HENSMAN, 12. Tiffany BOSHERS, 13. Bronte BATES, 14. Sammara SCHMITZER, 15. Alishia FOOTE, 16. Stacey DAY, 17. Mikaela HOWELL, 18. Michaela HATZIRODOS, 19. Kimberley WITT, 20. Alannah ROSEWOOD