Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory looking to get off to the perfect start Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory looking to get off to the perfect start

Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory open the W-League season at Wanderers Oval on Saturday, 9 November.

The Glory will be wanting to go that little bit further this season after losing a controversial penalty shootout to Melbourne Victory in last season’s semi final while Newcastle will be looking for improvement on last year’s performance.

Perth Glory are dealing with the big losses of Lisa De Vanna to Melbourne Victory and English international goalkeeper Carly Telford.

The core of the Glory’s side remains intact with Kate Gill, Collette McCallum, Marianna Tabain and Avi Luik returning. Perth’s W-League player of the year Luik will miss the start of the season with a hamstring injury.

Big name recruits for the Glory include Cecilie Sandvej, a left sided defender who represented Denmark at the Euro 2013 Championships and Canadian international striker Christina Julien, who is out here on a 7 game guest stint.

To replace Telford, Perth have recruited goalkeeper Chantel Jones who is coming off a season with the Washington Spirit.

For Newcastle the majority of last season’s squad also remains unchanged. However the Jets have lost key players Hayley Crawford (retired) and Matildas’ vice captain Emily Van Egmond to the Wanderers. Hannah Beard, Ashley Spina and Lauren Brown have made the move south from Brisbane Roar, NNSW WPL top scorer Rhali Dobson makes a return to the W-League this season with stalwart Gema Simon to captain the side.

Newcastle can take some confidence form their last meeting with Perth Glory. It was a hot afternoon in early January, down 2-1 with a little over 10 minutes left when Tara Andrews made a run down the left towards the by-line, her cutback found Jasmine Courtenay at the top of the area. Courtenay with space, turned and unleashed a right foot shot into the top corner to nick a point away from home.

This was a much improved performance from the round 4 clash when Jets were defeated 6-1 at home by the Glory with Kate Gill scoring a hat trick against her old team.

The Glory may be one of the favourites to take out the title this season but Newcastle in true Novocastrian style won’t go down without a fight. If they play to their potential an upset may be on the cards.

Head to Head: Played 8, Newcastle 2, Perth Glory 4, drawn 2.

Saturday 9 November 2013

Wanderers Field, Newcastle

Local kick-off: 3pm

Newcastle Jets squad: 1. Eliza CAMPBELL (gk), 2. Hannah BREWER 3. Stacey DAY, 4.Siahn BOZANIC, 6. Ashley SPINA, 7. Gema SIMON (c), 8. Madeline SEARL 9. Tara ANDREWS, 10. Rhali DOBSON, 11. Grace MACINTYRE, 12. Hannah BEARD, 13. Jasmin COURTENAY, 14. Sophie NENADOVIC, 15. Libby COPUS-BROWN, 16. Cassidy DAVIS, 17. Lauren BROWN, 19. Adriana JONES, 20. Claire COELHO (gk) (three to be omitted)

Unavailable: Ainsley BUCHANAN (gk)

Perth Glory squad: 1. Chantel JONES (gk), 2. Sarah CARROLL, 3. Cecilie SANDVEJ, 4. Bronwyn STUDMAN, 5. Shannon MAY, 6. Sasha ANDREWS, 9. Rosie SUTTON, 12. Kate GILL, 13. Elisa D’OVIDIO, 14. Collette McCALLUM, 15. Jess DILLON, 16. Thia EASTMAN, 17. Marianna TABAIN, 18. Amy KNIGHTS, 19. Shawn BILLAM, 20. Kathleen WAYCOTT (gk), 21. Christina JULIEN (two to be omitted)

Unavailable: Aivi Luik (hamstring – indefinite), Kat Jukic (groin – 2 weeks), Ella Mastrantonio (personal – 1 week)