Brisbane Roar will face old foes Newcastle Jets in the opening round of the 2022/23 Liberty A-League season on Saturday 19 November at Perry Park.
The Roar will hope to continue their string of wins over the Jets from last season, where they won 5-1 and 4-0 back in March, in their first game of the 2022/23 season.
Head Coach Garrath McPherson said his side will be weary of the Newcastle Jets line-up but equally prepared.
“We know they have two former Roar players, who are both great players in their own right in Canon [Clough] and Georgina [Worth], they are quick, powerful and aggressive but these are things we have looked at across our training this week,” he said.
“We are looking forward to measuring how our pre-season preparation has gone in comparison to other teams.
“Coming from a one-club state it is hard to get pre-season fixtures against women’s teams, so we have played boy’s teams which have really pushed us.”
The Roar have been boosted by a number of signings in the off-season including internationals Hensley Hancuff and Kajsa Lind, newly minted Australian citizen Margot Robinne as well as Talitha Kramer, Georgia Beaumont and Kijah Stephenson.
McPherson hinted toward the team’s secret weapon for the season and said he is encouraged by the displays of inclusive and positive culture he has seen from his players so far.
“The surprising thing from my perspective was, just how tall six-foot-three is with Hensley [Hancuff],” he said.
“That was a bit of a wow moment for me, to see a goalkeeper in the goal of that kind of stature.
“At 23, to be so confident and to have her physical presence on the field it’s exciting to have her in.
“Our younger goalkeepers have instantly had someone to physically look up to but also look up to in terms of quality which she has brought to the squad,” he added.
Catch all the action between Brisbane Roar and Newcastle Jets live on Paramount+.
