For a player who rarely stands still, Adriana Jones has had enough of moving around.
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It is good news for New Lambton, who plan to rebuild a Herald Women's Premier League squad around the former W-League striker after a challenging year for the club.
In the space of a season, the Eagles went from the dizzying heights of collecting the premiership-championship double in 2019 to second-last this campaign.
Jones finished the season with New Lambton after initially returning to Northern NSW Football's top-flight women's competition in Broadmeadow colours after a four-year absence. In what the 25-year-old described as "a bit of a mess of a year", she parted ways with Magic after just two appearances.
"It was a mentally challenging year," Jones said. "But New Lambton have taken me in and looked after me from the get-go and I'm happy to return the favour.
"You've just got to stick it through. Things always change in football and that's what's happened this year. But the club have acted on that. They want to improve and they want to go forward and be competitive and that's a good culture to have."
Jones made 44 appearances in the W-League with seasons for her home-town Newcastle Jets before stints with Adelaide then Melbourne City.
"I want to be part of a club with a family-type culture," Jones said. "When you go into that professional sector you leave that behind. It's dog eat dog. I want to come back to the local league and just enjoy it and have everyone around me enjoy it.
"I want to be able to take what I've learnt and help others in a positive way. I want to try to be a captain-type figure and be a role model. I'm learning that as I go but I think I've been through enough to try to give that back.
"I'd like to win a grand final again and make it a competitive culture and a positive one. I don't really want to jump around any more. I'm happy to stay and help this building process."
Eagles head coach Greg Lowe and reserve-grade coach Maddy Searl have assembled a new-look senior squad. Former national league player Andy Roberts has also come on board as WPL general manager.
"We've brought in a lot of quality," Lowe said. "Retaining Adriana Jones is a big thing for us. Then we've brought in Georgia Minors, who already at her first training session was just absolute class, along with a couple of current Emerging Jets players. We've got a few fringe first-grade players from other clubs just looking to make an impact in first grade and we're really looking forward to working with those type of players. I love a fantastic challenge and the girls who we've brought in are so driven and wanting to improve and prove a point, so I'm really confident about our chances next year."
Minors, who came through the Emerging Jets program, returns to the league after time away. The 20-year-old midfielder played part of the 2018 season with Wallsend and made a handful of appearances for South Wallsend in 2019.
"I've had a bit of a break but I felt like there was something missing in my life," Minors said. "I grew up playing with the Jets, training four nights a week and I was feeling a bit lost without soccer. But I feel so refreshed. I'm so keen for this season.
"I don't put boots on to muck around. I'm keen to have fun but with fun comes playing well. I want to perform at my personal best and see what I'm capable of again. But at the same time, I'm just happy to be out on the field playing again.
"I think having a clean slate is always great. I feel like we'll be underdogs this year, but I believe we can play some really good football. I'm really excited."