Our Roar Women are looking to continue their strong away form when they take the field on Thursday night against the Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium (6:30pm KO QLD time).
Having come off a bye in Round 4, the Roar are heading into the clash feeling fit, healthy and sure to create selection headaches for Head Coach Mel Andreatta.
āWeāre really looking forward to playing in Newcastle – the Jets are a strong team. We had the bye the previous round so everyone is fit, fresh and ready to go,ā Captain and key defensive pillar Claire Polkinghorne said ahead of the trip south.
Creating opportunities in attack has not been a problem for the Roar Women this season, and despite only scoring two goals in three matches, Polkinghorne is confident in her side.
āThe first few games weāve created a lot of chances and havenāt been able to convert them,ā Polkinghorne continued.
āWeāve been working on our finishing and just getting that final ball and that final shot right. The pleasing thing is we are creating a lot of chances and weāve just got to put them away.ā
After analysing the Jets opening matches, which includes two wins and a loss, the Roar believe they have what it takes to break down the Newcastle defence.
āThey are a very organised team and theyāve got some very strong players all over the pitch. Weāve been working on the way that we want to break them down and tweaking a few little things, but just building on our performances in the first three rounds,ā Polkinghorne concluded.
Picking up maximum points on the road became a key cornerstone of the Roarās run to the 2017/18 Premiership, and having already picked up their first win on the road this season, the Roar are hoping to continue their strong form away from home.
MATCH DETAILS
Westfield W-League 2018/19 – Round 5: Newcastle Jets v Brisbane Roar
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Thursday, 29 November (6:30pm KO QLD time)
Newcastle Jets squad: 2.Hannah BREWER, 4.Libby COPUS-BROWN, 5.Arin WRIGHT, 6.Cassidy DAVIS, 7.Gema SIMON, 9.Katie STENGEL, 10.Emily VAN EGMOND, 11.Cortnee VINE, 14.Taylor SMITH, 15.Renee POUNTNEY, 17.Jenna KINGSLEY, 18.Clare WHEELER, 19.Pana PETRATOS, 20.Claire COELHO (gk), 22.Larissa CRUMMER, 25.Teigan COLLISTER, 28.Britt ECKERSTROM (gk) **two to be omitted**
Ins: 5.Arin WRIGHT (new signing), 22.Larissa CRUMMER (return from injury)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 12.Tara ANDREWS (ankle – 5 weeks)
Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Mackenzie ARNOLD (gk), 2.Carson PICKETT, 4.Clare POLKINGHORNE (c), 5.Jenna MCCORMICK, 6.Celeste BOUREILLE, 7.Indiah-Paige RILEY, 8.Kaitlyn TORPEY, 9.Chioma UBOGAGU, 10.Katrina GORRY, 11.Natalie TATHEM, 12.Allira TOBY, 14.Summer OāBRIEN, 15.Abbey LLOYD, 17.Yuki NAGASATO, 19.Hollie PALMER, 20.Annie GROVE (gk), 22.Anna MARGRAF **two to be omitted**
Ins: 12.Allira TOBY (promoted), 22.Anna MARGRAF (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 16.Hayley RASO (back – TBC)