By Kieran Yap 11/2/26
Above: Ashley Jordan for Francis Marion University. Photo: FMU Patriots
Bulleen Lions’s prodigal striker has returned. Ashley Jordan will step on the Veneto Club turf again after five years away in the US College system.
The explosive forward rejoins the club where she scored an astounding 39 goals in 27 games for the U19 side and won the Golden Boot three times. This is a signing that has many NPLW watchers excited for good reason.
“I’ve lived in Australia since I was 12, and went to college in 2020, so part of it was coming back to Australia in general” Jordan said to Impetus.
“I reached out to a few coaches, spoke to some people, but I think I knew that Bulleen was the home for me.
“I played, I believe two or three seasons there when I was younger.
“I actually played alongside Caity Friend (current Bulleen coach) in one of them. I was playing up in the seniors, and I really liked the environment, the facilities.
“After talking to Caity, having a few conversations, hearing what she believes in, really I think it’s rare to find a coach that believes in the same things as you, and you see their vision, and kind of align in that way.
“There’s a lot of reasons, but it feels like I’m meant to be at Bulleen.”
Jordan is an exciting talent. Fast, direct and mobile, she can help form a potentially terrifying attack alongside new arrival Olivia Bomford and fellow returnee Maja Markovski.
Jordan is not just a technically astute talent but has played the game most of her life. Born in Bangalore, India, she grew up playing tennis and football. After joining a Boca Juniors academy in India, her ability quickly became apparent playing as the only girl.
Coaches eventually told her father that she should be in an environment that had opportunities for women’s football, and once Australia became home, her focus became football. Her form in the NPLW youth systems earned plaudits and her return in the senior side has grown excitement about the upcoming year.
Bulleen has been a good home for forwards in recent years. The last two NPLW seasons have seen strikers from the club take home the Gold Medal as the best player in the league.
Jordan says the way that Caitlin Friend coaches players, makes the club an attractive destination.
“She believes in players,” said Jordan.
“She encourages her players to take risks and not be afraid of making mistakes.
“I love the environment so far in preseason, where everyone is so competitive, and really want to push themselves to be the best player they can.
“I think a big difference in the college system was everyone on your team is kind of out to get you for the same spot, and I think it’s not a very healthy way of a healthy style of competition.
“But I think the way that Caity has been able to foster the culture of people want to be competitive to push each other to become better.
“I think that really appeals to me. Taking risks, being a player that can perform in High-pressure scenarios, not being afraid what people will think, and just backing yourself, because your team has your back as well.”
Her time in the college system at The University of San Francisco and Francis Marion University was tough, but rewarding. She battled injury in one of the most unforgiving and competitive sporting cultures in the world, but also received her Masters of Science in Clinical Psychology.
“I had always kind of planned that,’ she says of the move to the US.
“Education is a big, part of my life as well.
“Nowhere else in the world can you get that kind of experience of school and college, so part of me always knew I wanted to experience that and San Francisco was just amazing.”
COVID lockdowns and then a serious back injury limited her game time in the United States, but she finished strong with seven goals and six assists over the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The different style of football and competitive environments helped Jordan continue to grow as a player.
“I think, just overall, the style of college soccer, of American soccer, is much more physical.
“I think there are a lot more athletes who happen to play soccer.
“I think in the NPL, and Australia in general, everyone is a lot more technical, and actually are football players first.
“That was something to get used to, everyone being, you know, a lot more athletic, you know, everything’s faster, stronger.
“I think I added the ability to kind of be strong on the ball, be that kind of post-up player, like a target, which, that was never really my style as a striker, but being able to add that, being able to add the gritty things to just get ahead of people being proactive and the small 1% differences.”
Bulleen’s first game of the season is a blockbuster. Round One see’s Jordan and the Lions host Melbourne Victory at the Veneto Club. The league’s newest side may be an under 23 program, but contains an entire squad pushing for A-League contracts.
The home side will fear no-one however. They too boast A-League Women champions, youth internationals and some of the best players to step foot on an NPLW pitch. Neutrals could not ask for a better season opener.
“We’re all really excited,” Jordan said of the upcoming match.
“We played them in a practice match about a week ago, and I think we all had a lot of fun and scored a lot of goals.
“I think we have some great, players on the team that have a lot of experience and know how to set the tone of the game and kind of manage it in a way that I think we can come out on top, so I’m looking forward to that.”
Bulleen host Melbourne Victory at 4pm at the Vento Club on Saturday 14th of February.
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