Adelaide United’s Georgia Campagnale and Chelsie Dawber expect this W-League season to be the most ferocious
GEORGIA Campagnale and Chelsie Dawber are the latest re-signings for Adelaide United. And the duo expect this W-League season to be the most ferocious yet.
CHELSIE Dawber’s memorable moment playing at one of the most famous junior clubs in the Elizabeth and Districts Junior Soccer Association was being floored by Socceroos hopeful Awer Mabil.
The Adelaide United W-League midfielder has signed a one-season deal alongside 21-year-old defender/midfielder Georgia Campagnale.
“I was about nine, he was 14 and Awer cleaned me up in a training game,” recalled the 18-year-old speech pathology student.
“He apologised for it afterwards – he’s a good person.”
Dawber grew up playing soccer with her old brother Matthew Dawber, 21, who has been outstanding for MetroStars in the NPLafter he made his senior debut for Blue Eagles.
Her first soccer club, Saint Augustines, is where Mabil, ex-Adelaide United captain and former Socceroo Travis Dodd, Adelaide City legend Joe Mullen and former Olyroo Russell Waller all started their careers.
After joining the club as a four-year-old, Dawber left Saint Augustines when she was 11 before she was discovered as a talentedJunior Matilda after a season at Blue Eagles.
A 12-month stint on the sidelines after suffering from post concussion syndrome in 2016 threatened her career before she roseabove adversity to earn nine appearances for Adelaide United last season.
And a little more than two weeks ago, Campagnale said Dawber was lauded again after scoring the winning goal for Adelaide City in the women’s NPL grand final in a 1-0 win over Metro United at Hindmarsh Stadium.
Campagnale is in her fifth W-League season with Adelaide, making 37 appearances.
She said joining Dawber at United after they were teammates at Adelaide City during the 2018 local league season could only be beneficial to the mojo of the side.
“Chelsie did really well at Adelaide City and having local teammates in the Adelaide United squad is really helpful,” said Campagnale, who is studying nutrition and dietetics at Flinders University.
“You play with them all year and we can continue that good relationship in the W-League.”
Campagnale, however, expects this W-League season to be the best, for good reason.
With all Matildas expected to feature in the competition in a season where Australia’s coach Alen Stajcic is being challenged to find his strongest FIFA women’s World Cup squad bound for France next June, Campagnale says the W-League will be at its most ferocious.
“We’ve signed (Matildas striker) Michelle Heyman and it’s going to be a big year for everyone,” Campagnale said.
“Her experience will help us to convert opportunities. This season will be very competitive with the World Cup around thecorner too.
“There’s a lot of fringe Matildas that will be pushing for a spot and everyone will be trying to play at their best to geta look into the squad. They all want to play at the World Cup.”