A-League Women: Young Matildas captain on ‘no-brainer’ move to Central Coast Mariners for 2024/25

Young Matildas captain Jessika Nash has opted for a sea-change for her fifth A-League season. Read why her move to the Mariners was a ‘no-brainer.’

Junior Matildas captain Jessika Nash has four seasons in the A-League Women under her belt, despite not yet turning 20.

Nash made her debut at 16-years-old with Canberra United in the 2020/21 season and has since represented Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory as well as Australia in the Junior and Young Matildas set up.

For her fifth season in the league, Nash has moved a little closer to her Sydney home to join the Central Coast Mariners in their sophomore season.

“For me, it was a no-brainer,” Nash said on signing with the Mariners.

“(After) seeing how successful they were last year, and to hear how the girls speak of Em Husband as a coach, I think for me it was just no thought.”

Working under coach Emily Husband was a real selling point for Nash.

Husband won the Coach of the Year honours in her first season in the league for 2023/24 after leading the brand new team to finals and a fifth-place finish.

“I think she’s a great coach but an even better person,” Nash said.

“She really looks at the player and the person.

“I think she’s going to be a great mentor, but an even better friend.”

Nash is just one of many new faces on the coast for the upcoming season, with Taylor Ray, Jade Pennock, Brooke Nunn and Chloe Carmichael signing on for 2024/25, while 11 players have moved on from the club.

Despite the mass changes, Nash said the squad has all the right pieces to go even further than last season.

“I think last season they may have fallen just short with the finals series,” Nash said.

“We’ll take a lot of leanings from last year with a newish squad, although some familiar faces, but I think we’ll want to go that one step further.