Brisbane Roar kick off Unite Round this Saturday night with the Liberty A-League squad taking on Newcastle Jets as they look to build on last week’s win at home.
LAST TIME WE MET:
In their last meeting in December 2022, Brisbane Roar comfortably secured the three points in a 2-0 victory over Newcastle away at their home of McDonald Jones Stadium.
This Saturday will see Roar look to repeat history as they face the Jets for the first time in over a year.
In what will be a well-matched game with Roar in ninth place and Jets in tenth place, Roar will be determined to secure a consecutive victory following Sunday’s result.
WHAT WAS SAID:
Head Coach Alex Smith reflected on the positive shift within the playing group after a victory over Wellington Phoenix on Sunday, but said that despite the pleasing signs, there’s still a lot to improve on moving forward.
“It’s been good, it’s amazing what three points does to a group. Everybody is buzzing, I’m just pleased for the girls, they finally got some reward for all the effort we’ve been putting in at training. We’re really looking forward to the weekend,” Smith said.
“Anything that’s worth while takes a bit of time, we’ve been working very hard for a couple of months now, so I think you are starting to see it. We still have a lot to improve on, but I felt the weekend was the most total performance we’ve put in since I’ve been here so pleasing signs but that is when we’ve got to work even harder and keep improving every single week.”
TEAM NEWS:
The club can confirm that Hannah Holgersen will miss the remainder of the 2023/24 season due to illness. Hannah is doing well and continues to be an integral part of our Liberty A-League squad after supporting the team in their big home win against Wellington on Sunday. Brisbane Roar wish her all the best in her recovery.
After sustaining a neck injury, Keeley Richards is back and available for selection this weekend.
Ashlee Brodigan continues her knee rehab and will be back as quickly and safely as possible.
Brisbane Roar FC Liberty A-League Women Round 12 squad:
1. Keeley RICHARDS (GK), 2. Rebecca KIRKUP, 3. Deborah-Anne De La Harpe 4. Kijah STEPHENSON, 5. Jenna MCCORMICK, 6. Holly MCQUEEN, 7. Ayesha NORRIE (C), 8. Mariel HECHER, 9. Mia CORBIN, 11. Sharn FREIER, 12. Tamar LEVIN, 13. Tameka YALLOP, 14. Sarah O’DONOGHUE, 17. Leah SCARPELLI, 18. Teagan THOMPSON, 19. Hollie PALMER, 20. Bonnie DAVIES, 22. Ruby CUTHBERT, 29. Jordan SILKOWITZ (GK) 32. Alicia WOODS
INS: 1. Keeley RICHARDS (GK),
OUTS: 21. Isabella SHUTTLEWORTH
UNAVAILABLE: 10. Grace KUILAMU, 15. Hannah HOLGERSEN, 16. Chelsea BLISSETT, 23. Ashlee BRODIGAN
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
Games: 15
Brisbane win: 9
Newcastle win: 4
Draws: 2
KEY STATS: Brought to you by Opta.
- Brisbane Roar FC are undefeated in their last eight A-League Women games against the Newcastle Jets (W7 D1) including wins in each of their last five meetings; the Roar’s last defeat to the Jets in the competition came in December 2017.
- The Newcastle Jets have registered a win and a draw across their last two games in the A-League Women; the last time they earned competition points from more consecutive games was a five-game stretch from December 2021 to January 2022 (W2 D3).
- Brisbane Roar FC have scored 50{0e9d9e5f8ab8f5ee98de7b96e5025abc03cdeec159ea0768a5c635a5f5e5f174} of their total goals from left-footed shots (7/14) in the 2023/24 A-League Women season, 12 percentage points more than any other team in the competition; the Newcastle Jets (11{0e9d9e5f8ab8f5ee98de7b96e5025abc03cdeec159ea0768a5c635a5f5e5f174} – 2/18) are ranked last in this category.
- Sharn Freier (Brisbane Roar FC) has made 14.7 metres per carry from 147 carries in the 2023/24 A-League Women season, the most of any player in the competition (min. 90 carries).
- Sarina Bolden (Newcastle Jets) has been directly involved in seven goals in her last six A-League Women matches (5 goals, 2 assists), including two goals and an assist across her last two appearances in that span.
Brisbane Roar FC Liberty A-League Women Unite Round squad:
1. Keeley RICHARDS (GK), 2. Rebecca KIRKUP, 3. Deborah-Anne De La Harpe 4. Kijah STEPHENSON, 5. Jenna MCCORMICK, 6. Holly MCQUEEN, 7. Ayesha NORRIE (C), 8. Mariel HECHER, 9. Mia CORBIN, 11. Sharn FREIER, 12. Tamar LEVIN, 13. Tameka YALLOP, 14. Sarah O’DONOGHUE, 17. Leah SCARPELLI, 18. Teagan THOMPSON, 19. Hollie PALMER, 20. Bonnie DAVIES, 22. Ruby CUTHBERT, 29. Jordan SILKOWITZ (GK) 32. Alicia WOODS
INS: 1. Keeley RICHARDS (GK),
OUTS: 21. Isabella SHUTTLEWORTH
UNAVAILABLE: 10. Grace KUILAMU, 15. Hannah HOLGERSEN, 16. Chelsea BLISSETT, 23. Ashlee BRODIGAN
MATCH DETAILS
Liberty A-League Women 2023/24 – Round 12: Brisbane Roar vs Newcastle Jets
Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
Saturday, 13 January (6:45pm KO)
