Jada Whyman embodies all the qualities of the modern sweeper ‘keeper
JADA Whyman spent her formative years playing Australian rules, but at 18 she is making a her mark as new generation goalkeeper.
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JADA Whyman’s foray into goalkeeping was something of an accident.
The 18-year-old Matildas debutant-in-waiting spent her formative years playing Australian rules in hometown Wagga Wagga.
“I played AFL a lot, but you could only play until you were 12 with the girls so I ended up picking up soccer,” she said from national team camp in France.
Even then it was down to fate or fortune that she ended up between the posts.
“I tried out for the Wagga rep team and all the positions on the field were taken except goalkeeper,” Whyman said.
“No one trialled for that position so I was like, ‘I’ll do it’.
“I did play a little bit in other positions in the local league but running wasn’t really my thing.”
That might be the case, but Whyman can certainly move.
The Western Sydney W-League player embodies all the qualities of the modern sweeper ‘keeper.
Her former coach at the Football NSW Institute, ex-Socceroo Craig Foster, has described her as an “exceptional talent” with distribution as good as most top teenage central defenders.
“I would say I’m a bit of a sweeper ‘keeper and play a bit higher off my line,” Whyman said.
“I was working on it with Craig Foster and it worked well with the way Aussies like to play, then watching the way Mat Ryan changes the way he plays to suit the style of the rest of the team.”
Matildas coach Alen Stajcic has been watching Whyman closely as part of the Future Matildas program and, with first choice Lydia Williams rested for upcoming friendlies, handed the proud Indigenous footballer her first squad call-up.
Mackenzie Arnold is the only other shot-stopper in the squad, so Whyman could yet get an unexpected international debut against England in London early Wednesday.
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