Above: Young gun Emma Dundas shining in her debut season for the Jets. Image: A-League Women.
By Ryan Miller-Woods (9/7/24).
After having had a breakout maiden A-League Women’s campaign with Newcastle Jets which saw her voted as the club’s Young Player of the Year, 17-year-old midfielder Emma Dundas has re-signed with the Jets until the end of the 2025/2026 A-League Women’s season.
Dundas made her A-League debut in the opening round of last season in the F3 Derby against Central Coast Mariners and made a total of 22 appearances throughout the season, starting 17 matches and playing over 1400 minutes, as well as scoring her first goal in the A-League Women in the 8-0 rout of Adelaide United in Round 22.
The way Dundas set herself up and seized her moment perfectly showed that she is a player well beyond her years and one to watch for the coming season.
Internationally, Dundas was called up to the Junior Matildas for the 2024 AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup in Indonesia back in May off the back of her performances in the A-League Women. She started in all three of Australia’s group matches against China, Japan, and Thailand. As well as that, she was recently called up to the Young Matildas for the two friendlies against New Zealand this month in preparation for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
The fact that Dundas has been signed for the next two seasons shows she’s very much valued by the club and this should prove to be a great piece of business by Newcastle.
Dundas is a very exciting talent with a lot of potential at such a young age and playing alongside players such as club captain Cassidy Davis will only keep furthering Dundas’ development as a footballer going into her second A-League Women’s season.
Dundas will be an important player for Newcastle next season towards not only having another successful season but also making back-to-back Finals campaigns.
With both Dundas and Davis confirmed for the 2024/2025 season, Jets fans can begin to see the shape of their midfield to look like for next season.
The player that Dundas could potentially become is something that should really excite Newcastle fans for the future.
As for her thoughts on re-signing with Newcastle Jets for the upcoming A-League Women’s season, Dundas said, “I’m really happy to be able to re-sign for my hometown team. This season has been so surreal from my debut in Round One against the Mariners to playing Finals football with this great group of girls. This is the best place for me to play my football. I’m looking forward to continue growing as a player and I’m excited for what is to come for this team.”
Newcastle Jets Women’s Head Coach Ryan Campbell had this to say about Dundas re-signing with the club, “Emma is an example of the type of player that we are looking to develop at the Newcastle Jets. She is a homegrown player who has worked hard through our Academy to earn the chance to play for the club at the highest level. I am looking forward to working with her to help to get as much experience as possible in order to take her game to as far as she wants it to go.”
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