Match of the Round
Adamstown Rosebud JFC v Broadmeadow Magic
Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility, Saturday 7pm
Adamstown Rosebud JFC coach Martin Slade says that Broadmeadow Magic will have to be much improved if they are to defeat his new-look side on Saturday night.
The Buds are eager to get their 2025 campaign underway at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility after they served the bye in round one.
They have subtly recruited in the off-season with experienced players Evie Horgan, Marion Dunbabin, Georgia Cook (Newcastle Olympic), Sophia Laurie and Yasmin Popovic (Maitland FC) joining the club.
Broadmeadow Magic started their season with a heavy 8-2 loss to fierce rivals Newcastle Olympic.
Slade believed that his team would be hard to beat this season and that a lot would have to change from Magic’s round one performance to ruffle any of their feathers on Saturday night.
“I think if we are being honest and serious, the group that has been assembled at this football club has the opportunity to make finals. I don’t think that it is insurmountable with the players that we have got,” Slade said.
“The girls want to win games. There is resilience in this group with some underlying nastiness that wasn’t there last year. Adding the players that we have has added a layer of competitiveness to the group.
“But nothing is given. We still have to go out there play football and win games. Adamstown should be in the fight.
“The plan is that we will go out against Broadmeadow and put on a performance that makes other teams worry. We hope we put on a show.
“I expect them to come out and put on a real shift with a lot of energy. They will want to get a bit closer to us than they did with Olympic.
“If they lose two in a row then go on and lose again, they could have a really hard season.”
But Slade said that his team would not enter the contest complacent and expected Magic to put up a fight.
“We are not going to take Magic lightly. We have to remain grounded,” Slade said.
“Playing against Magic at any time is a tough challenge. They are a proud football club and they won’t want to lose two games in a row.
“They had LG [Lilly-Jane Babic], Cassie [Corder] and Jannali [Hunter] come off the bench. If they start, they make it a different opposition where they can play in behind. They are their three best players.
“I know that losing five to six players that they will be a different team but I respect the club and Jason.
“It would be massive to get the win. I think the aim is to make finals, beating teams and being consistent throughout the year.
“I am not afraid of anyone this season.”
All of Adamstown's squad will be available for selection except Zoë Horgan, who is overcoming a thigh strain and may miss the match.
Magic will be desperate to erase last weekend’s loss and come back in round two with a bang.
The club has undergone a significant rebuild in the offseason, with Jason Konjarski stepping into the head coach role and several key players leaving.
They have recruited Callie Thomas, Jennifer Reeves (Warners Bay), Cassie Corder (Charlestown Azzurri), Molly Salvador (Newcastle Jets) and Alexis Andrews (Eagles ECNL, LA Premier FC) to fill in the gaps.
When asked about the squad before the season began, defender Hunter said the rebuild was a positive step forward for the club and was confident the team could do big things in 2025.
“Things are looking good, honestly at the start we were a bit nervous with basically a whole new team with four of us that have played together total,” Hunter said.
“Everyone is starting to bond and gel really well and it's starting to click as we are learning each other’s movements.”
“We have set up a women’s committee that is solely focused on the women’s program because last year wasn’t great. It is why a lot of people left. But the club has committed to improving that and learning from their mistakes last year which is a good thing.
“We want to win it. I know we can win it. We started out the season last year a bit soft but you need to get that dog in you and rip in.”
Konjarski wanted to see a big reaction from his side in order to get over the line away from home and secure a crucial three points.
Lake Macquarie City FC v Newcastle Olympic
Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility, Friday 8:15pm
Newcastle Olympic captain Jemma House believes the club’s new signings will be the key this season as they search for back-to-back wins this Friday when they take on Lake Macquarie City FC.
Olympic will be full of confidence as they head into their round two match at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility after a dominant 8-2 victory over Broadmeadow Magic last week.
The club’s new recruits made an instant impact as Rhali Dobson and Laura Hall scored four goals between them and Alex Huyhn proved strong in defence.
House was excited to see what the new signings could bring to the squad.
“We are feeling really good. We are gelling really well together at the moment,” House said.
“A lot of us have played with Laura [Hall]. I am really excited to have Laura back and to have Rhali [Dobson] come in as well as Alex Huynh to give us a bit more experience in the game.
“We are very excited to have everyone here.”
House said that the squad is determined to make the grand final again this year and knows the importance of picking up points in the opening rounds of the competition.
“I think for every team they want to make the grand final and win as many games as possible that’s always our goal at the start of the year,” House said.
“But we are taking things game by game and start gelling as much as we can in the first few games.”
Lakes will also enter the contest with some momentum after they drew 1-1 with reigning premiers Maitland FC in the club’s first NPL Women’s NNSW match.
The Roosters have been dealt a significant blow as defender Maddison Dunlop has been ruled out for five to six weeks with a hamstring tear.
But they will see Keziah White return to fill in the defensive gaps when she makes her debut in white and blue on Friday night.
Now that they have put their stamp on the competition, the Roosters will be eager to back it up with another strong performance and three points.
Maitland FC v New Lambton FC
Cooks Square Park, Sunday 4pm
New Lambton will be desperate to bounce back this Sunday when they travel to Cooks Square Park to face Maitland FC.
The Golden Eagles had a disappointing start to their 2025 campaign after they lost their opening match 6-1 to Charlestown Azzurri.
The club now faces a goalkeeper crisis ahead of round two, after their number one goalkeeper Isabella White suffered an ankle injury and reserve goalkeeper Ngawai Pirini received a one-match suspension for denying a goal-scoring opportunity against the Blues.
There is a high possibility that outfield player Finley Woodforth will don the gloves again after she played 75 minutes in between the posts last week.
But the side showed some promise in attack after new recruit Caitlin Pickett scored a sharp break-away goal and Tara Andrews created positive chances on goal.
New Lambton have vowed to hit the ground running this season and will hope that their goalkeeper woes don’t hurt their ability to pick up points against the Magpies.
Maitland will also look to go one better on Sunday after they snatched a late point with a 1-1 draw with Lake Macquarie City FC in their first match of the season.
Coach Joe Wright would hope that his side can put together a consistent 90-minute performance this week as they search for their first win of 2025.
Bye – Charlestown Azzurri