By Kieran Yap 6/9/25
Above: Deven Jackson with the Newcastle Jets. Photo: Newcastle Jets
Essendon Royals have had another strong season, after making the final in 2024 immediately after promotion, they have backed that up with another top four finish this season.
One of the big reasons for their impressive NPLW campaign is new signing, Deven Jackson. The New Zealand international has scored six goals from the wing, making an instant and lasting impact on the club.
Now at Melbourne City, Jackson will be unavailable for the NPLW finals, but she spoke to Impetus about why she joined Essendon after departing The Newcastle Jets.
“Seeing what they did last year and the success they achieved, being around them and seeing the unity as a group. That’s something that’s hard to come by.
“They’re such a good group of girls… it’s quite a fun environment which is key to success.
“It was kind of a no-brainer.”
Jackson adjusted instantly to the league. That was no surprise after a strong individual season with The Newcastle Jets. She scored twice against Preston Lions in her third Royals appearance and immediately looked like the right player to step in for injured captain Ava Groba.
Jackson is a fast, direct winger who is a clinical finisher. Once she is goal side, there is virtually no way to stop her, and Essendon have the players to provide excellent service. Jackson was joined by fellow A-League Women starters Grace Maher and Alana Cerne.
Those names added experience and firepower to a squad already boasting the talents of Airi Fujiwara, Sasha Coorey and an eight goal season from the deadly Emma Langley.
After 18 games of the A-League Women, Jackson was still eager to take to the pitch in the Victorian NPLW
“The ALW season is quite long, and it’s quite intense, but I figured that I’m going to be trying to stay fit anyway. You’re still training and putting in the work, so why not play and be with your friends?
“It’s such a really, inclusive, supporting environment. I feel like our team just kind of clicked and I thankfully fit into that really seamlessly.”
In one of the most tightly contested NPLW Vic season’s in history, nobody could take their ladder position for granted. Essendon faced stiff competition from Box Hill United, Alamain, and South Melbourne for that fourth spot, and were chasing second on the table until the last two rounds.
The competitiveness and quality of the league meant that the Royals had to be at their best every week, and occasionally rely on help from other results. A six game winning streak began in early July which included wins over Bulleen and Alamain, and helped establish Essendon as title contenders once again.
Although the last two rounds did not yield the best performances, the top four spot was locked away by then through over a month of mini-finals. The experience of back to back must-win matches has prepared Essendon to potentially go one step farther than they did in 2024.
“We kind of had our backs to the wall abit and pressure was on us,” said Jackson.
“We were treating each game like a Grand Final. We had very clear expectations and a path of what we needed to do to get to where we wanted to be.
“We thrived in the high-pressure environment. The turning point was probably Preston away and we got a win and went on a little unbeaten streak.
“That created a really good vibe within the team and we were kind of ticking off what we needed to do to make the top four.
“We’ve done that hard part and now it’s the second part of that.
“That’s what finals is, its pressure and that’s why it’s a privilege to be there.
“We’ll have a game plan and go out and execute it, knowing what we’ve come from and being in that pressure environment we’re used to it, so I’m looking forward to Saturday and seeing what the girls do.”
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