LAUREN Allan will have to wait at least another week, but the quicksilver Jets winger is confident that she is better prepared for her second W-League campaign.
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The COVID-19 outbreak on Sydney's northern beaches has resulted in border closures, effectively locking NSW off from most of the country, and forced a revamp of the W-League draw.
The Jets were scheduled to open the season at home against the Brisbane Roar but will now have a bye in the first round.
The remainder of a revised W-League draw will be released later this week.
The changes give the Jets an extra week to prepare.
Allan, 24, made her W-League debut off the bench in round one last season and was used predominantly as an impact player.
However, after a winter with the Northern Tigers in the NSW National Premier League, Allan hopes to push for a starting spot.
"Having the season down in the Sydney NPL has helped me," the 24-year-old radiography student said. "A lot of W-League players play down there. Also the tempo and the aggression is up a level compared to here."
Playing mainly on the left side of a front three, Allan netted seven goals in 12 games for the Tigers, who finished fourth.
"I didn't quite get to double digits but I was pretty happy with it," Allan said. "It gave me confidence in myself that I am ready for the W-League. It definitely helped in that sense."
Jets W-League coach Ash Wilson expects Allan, who scored against Perth in a rare start last season, to "put her hand up" to be a regular.
"Some of those games that you saw Loz come in, either off the bench or start, you could see that she's got something," Wilson said. "She's super quick and she does have the ability to score goals. She wants to learn. She's hungry to play, and obviously last year was her first real taste of what that level was like, so she's coming out of that season a little bit wiser in terms of what's to be expected.
"She went and played in the Sydney competition this year with the Northern Tigers, where she was consistently playing against girls that were playing in W-League for other teams and I think that that's brought a little bit more confidence to her which is going to be crucial for us because I want to be able to score goals.
"She's someone that's definitely been brought in to do that and cause issues up front for the opposition. I would expect Loz to really put her hand up to become a starting player this season."
The Jets struggled to score goals last season, netting an equal league low 12.
Tara Andrews led the way with five. Allan and Andrews were part of the 2019 New Lambton outfit which won the Northern NSW premiership double.
"We definitely need to score more goals than last season," Allan said. "That is definitely a focus. Ash has tried to recruit in that area to build us up. Last season we weren't finishing when we creates those chances. The fact that I have played a season with Tara helps. If we play with two up front, we can definitely connect."
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IN THE NEWS:
James Gardiner
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
