Adelaide United’s Claudia Jenkins talks about her journey from bench warmer to first choice keeper

In one short off-season, Claudia Jenkins has gone from bench warmer to star performer for Adelaide United. The key to her turnaround? A broken wrist.

Adelaide United women's Goalkeeper Claudia Jenkins and attacker Erin Healy. Picture: Ben Clark

A broken wrist would usually be a disaster for a goalkeeper but for Claudia Jenkins it paved the path to her breakout season with Adelaide United and a historic semi-final.

Jenkins, 26, played just four games for Adelaide last season, this time around she starred in 22 games – keeping seven clean sheets and making 80 saves.

It was Jenkins’ impressive form between the sticks that kept Adelaide United’s finals hopes alive – blocking each of the six shots Western United had on target in last weekend’s elimination final.

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This weekend Jenkins will stand between the goalposts at Coopers Stadium as Adelaide United play their first ALW semi-final.

“It doesn’t quite feel real, it really hasn’t registered,” Jenkins said.

Adelaide United women's goalkeeper Claudia Jenkins (R) and attacker Erin Healy. Picture: Ben Clark

Jenkins didn’t credit any different diet or crazy workout schedule to her form. Instead putting it down to a broken wrist.

Desperate to get some game time after not getting many minutes during the 2023/24 season Jenkins played in the South Australian NPLW league.

At first Jenkins didn’t think it was too bad, it wasn’t until she had an X-ray that she learned she had played the game with a broken wrist.

She ended up in a cast for 11 weeks.

“It just took forever to heal,” Jenkins said. “It was a bit annoying because it didn’t really hurt or anything. I was stressed about it because I wanted to maximise the off-season so I could go into pre-season and put my hand up for first choice keeper, so it put a dent in the plan.”

As she couldn’t catch the ball Jenkins found another way to train – focusing on fitness and agility.

Claudia Jenkins has credited a broken wrist for turning around her career. Picture: Getty

Her cast came off on the first day of pre-season and the extra fitness and agility work had paid off.

“I had a good pre-season and performed well in some friendlies and got lucky enough to get my opportunity and I try my hardest every week to keep it,” Jenkins said.

The Adelaide local’s road to the top has been a long one. She was first contracted to the side as a 17-year-old but didn’t get on the field.

Jenkins then made a brave decision to head to the USA playing college football in Philadelphia.

“It is a hard position to start and maintain but you get little snippets here and there, like the four games I got last year,” Jenkins said.

“I love playing, I love training as a goalkeeper, if I didn’t have that love for it and the girls around me then I might have considered something else but I just really love the sport and the people around you make it a very happy place regardless of if you’re playing or not.”

Jenkins was first on Adelaide’s books as a 17-year-old.

Adelaide’s semi-final opponent is Melbourne Victory. A side that has beaten them twice this season, 3-2 and 2-1.

Jenkins has no reason to think Adelaide can’t get a win this weekend – especially with a huge crowd cheering them on at Coopers Stadium.

“It will be a very interesting match up, I don’t think this season we had our strongest 11 when we played them,” Jenkins said.

“Now that we have quite a bit of depth and we can get out strikers on the field again I think it will be a very different match up to what it was like the last couple of times.

“They are a strong side and they are in the finals for a reason, but anything can happen.”

Adelaide United play Melbourne Victory in the first leg of the ALW semi-final on Sunday, 4pm, at Coopers Stadium.

A-LEAGUE WOMEN’S SEMI-FINAL PREVIEWS

With the underdogs taking on the undefeated premiers and the bolters up against the most consistent team in the league there is only one certainty for this weekend’s A-League’s Women’s semi-finals – every team wants to win.

Melbourne City already have won a trophy to add to their cabinets this season – winning the premiership after going all 23 rounds without losing a game.

Victory are on a redemption mission having narrowly missed the premiership by just two points.

Central Coast Mariners proved what they could do with a come-from-behind win over Canberra United to secure their spot in their second consecutive ALW semi-final.

And last season’s wooden spooner Adelaide United are looking to win their club’s first ever semi-final.

Like last season the semi-finals will run over two-legs – meaning each team gets a chance to play at home.

Here is everything you need to know:

CENTRAL COAST MARINERS VS MELBOURNE CITY

Kick off: Saturday, 2.15pm (AEDT)

Melbourne City might not have lost a game all season but they also didn’t beat the Mariners and that is what Jessika Nash has been saying on repeat this week.

Premiership winners City and Mariners met twice this season – the first match ended 2-2, the second 0-0.

“That’s been the word around the group this week, is that we haven’t beaten them but they haven’t beaten us,” Nash said.

“We know that going into this game it is going to be a great battle and to have two games is going to be incredible.”

Nash, just 20, is in her fifth season in the ALW.

While not her first finals appearance it is her first chance in the double-legged semi-final format introduced last season.

“For us this is definitely a must win game approach, we’ve got the home advantage in the first leg and we’re going to utilise that,” Nash said.

“We know we’ve got to show up for both games in order to progress to the grand final.

“We have all the confidence, we’ve played some incredible football leading into this, we’ve put in a hard week of training and we’re not going to take a backwards step.”

Nash is expecting the game to be a close one, with not many goals scored.

“Every individual moment is going to be crucial. It will be about capitalising on our shows and minimising theirs and limiting our mistakes. It’s going to come down to moments and who is able to take them.”

MARINERS

Danger player: Jade Pennock – scored a double against Canberra United and seems to finally be comfortable in front of the goal.

To win: If Mariners want to celebrate a win they will need to score early and be prepared to defend. Goalkeeper Sarah Langman is one of the best in the league and will have to be at her best.

CITY

Danger player: Holly McNamara – the Golden Boot winner is unstoppable in front of the goal and after missing last year’s finals with her ACL injury she will be determined to make an impression this time around.

To win: City will have to be prepared for a fast moving Mariners midfield and attacking line up. While City love to attack they will have to split their focus between defence as well if they want to win.

ADELAIDE UNITED VS MELBOURNE VICTORY

Kick off: Sunday, 4pm (AEDT)

Having gone from bottom of the table to finals contenders Melbourne Victory’s Nicki Flannery knows Adelaide United cannot be written off.

Flannery, who joined Victory this season after seven seasons with Canberra United, has been a standout with five goals and two assists.

Victory have twice beaten Adelaide this season, 3-2 and 2-1, but Flannery said past results meant nothing in finals.

“They’ve done incredibly well this season, I’m really happy for them in terms of how successful they have been but obviously the competitor in me doesn’t want to give them too much grace,” Flannery said.

“The way they attack with a fair few numbers has proven to be successful this season. Erin Healy has had an incredible season.

“If we can try and get her to have a quiet game I think that would be very beneficial for us.”

At the end of the season two points stood between Victory and premiers Melbourne City.

It still stings when Flannery thinks about how close they came to the premiership.

“It’s pretty frustrating but it is fuel to the fire and we want to finish this finals series as champions, we won’t accept anything else,” she said.

As runner’s up Victory earned a week off – Flannery is itching to get on the pitch. It will be her first ALW finals since Canberra played in a semi-final against Sydney FC back in the 2020/21 season.

“I hated losing. I’ve been a part of a few semi-finals and haven’t won so I’m ready to change that,” she said.

“I’m very excited, it’s really bringing the kid in me out, I just want (the game) to be right now.”

Adelaide are full of confidence after their 1-0 elimination final win over Western United. With key player Healy back to full fitness their attack will be at full strength.

ADELAIDE UNITED

Danger player: Erin Healy – the American import has been on limited minutes this season after suffering a quad injury but is expected to feature heavily this weekend. She has scored 7 goals this season. If she teams up with Chelsie Dawber and Fiona Worts they will be hard to keep away from the goal.

To win: Victory are known for making a comeback so if Adelaide want to win they will need to stay switched on for the whole 90 minutes.

MELBOURNE VICTORY

Danger player: Courtney Newbon – the Victory goalkeeper has kept 11 clean sheets this season and conceded just 21 goals, equal lowest of the regular starting keepers this season.

To win: Victory are known as being one of the best defensive sides in the league – if they can hold out Adelaide it could well earn them a spot in the grand final.

Originally published as Adelaide United’s Claudia Jenkins talks about her journey from bench warmer to first choice keeper