Melbourne Victory has completed the double signing of Jessica Au and former Lady Red Alexandra Gummer for the 2014-15 Westfield W-League season, The Corner Flag can reveal.
This brings the number of Victory’s playing staff to 20, and effectively completes their playing roster for the new season.
The former Victory train-on players have starred in this year’s edition of the Women’s Premier League, and will sign their first ever contracts with the Victorian W-League club.
South Melbourne’s 19-year-old winger Au has played a large role in her side’s dominant season – which has seen them take a three-game lead at the top of the league – contributing eight goals and a number of assists along the way.
Possessing a fantastic touch and a marvellous dribbling ability, Au has composure and decision making ability that belies her tender age.
Rapid off the mark, the small statured flanker seems to know how to find the ball, and with her keen eye for goal, often does something very special with it.
She’ll join South Melbourne teammates Tiffany Eliadis and Amy Jackson in the squad of 20 with caretaker coach Matthew Maslak philosophical about the loss of the players.
“This is football, the players that perform well week-in, week-out deserve to get the accolades they get and the opportunities they get. That’s how football is, strong players sometime move on and it just opens up the door for other players to come in.”
Player Feature > Jessica Au: The twinkle-toed ninja
Gummer – who turned 22 today – was on the books of Adelaide United last season, and has been plying her trade at promoted side Boroondara Eagles during the off-season.
The utility has split duties in defence and in midfield and has been one of the best performing players in the league to date, with her magnificent work rate, relentless running and incisive passing all key strengths of her natural box-to-box style of play.
A marvellous reader of the game and a strong bodied presence on the field, Gummer will add a defensive steel to the Victory, as well as a genuine goal threat from midfield, having netted 10 goals for the Eagles this campaign.
Gummer admitted she was excited by the opportunity.
“Incredibly excited! I’ve worked so hard in the W-League off-season [with Boroondara] and over the past year to make sure I improve technically and tactically,” she said
Melbourne Victory coach Joe Montemurro was full of praise for the Lady Reds signing.
“Alex [Gummer] is doing very, very well – she’s slowly building into being a very positive player for us and hopefully we’ll see her come good for the Victory squad,” he said.
The signings follow on from the key signatures of American midfielder Christine Nairn, and the returning Lisa De Vanna who were officially announced as Melbourne Victory players last week.
Au will take the No. 3 shirt, while Gummer will wear No. 13.
Returning
GK: Brianna Davey
GK: Cass Dimovski
DEF: Stephanie Catley
DEF: Emma Checker
DEF: Alex Natoli
DEF: Maika Ruyter-Hooley
MID: Gülcan Koca
MID: Ella Mastrantonio
FWD: Lisa De Vanna
FWD: Tiffany Eliadis
FWD: Beattie Goad
International Signings
DEF: Elli Reed [International, Seattle Reign]
DEF/MID: Lauren Barnes [International, Seattle Reign]
MID: Christine Nairn [International, Washington Spirit]
Domestic Signings
DEF: Hannah Brewer [Signed from Newcastle Jets]
DEF: Gema Simon [Signed from Newcastle Jets]
MID: Jessica Au [Signed from South Melbourne Women’s]
MID: Alex Gummer [Signed from Adelaide United]
MID: Amy Jackson [Returns after year absence]
FWD: Racheal Quigley [Signed from Adelaide United]