Central Coast Mariners have significantly strengthened their Ninja A-League squad ahead of the upcoming campaign, securing the services of Leia Puxty, Shadeene Evans, Tess Quilligan, Tiana Fuller and Lily McMahon.
In terms of new faces to the first team squad, the Mariners have brought academy product and former Newcastle Jets defender Puxty back to the Coast.
Able to operate as a full-back or at centre-back, the 21-year-old offers head coach Emily Husband some much needed versatility in defence.
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Puxty featured 11 times during her brief spell with Newcastle Jets in the 2022-23 Ninja A-League season and heads back to the Mariners having most recently been a key part of UNSW side that played in the NPLW NSW competition, starting every match.
“It is honestly a dream come true to play for my hometown club,” she said. “One of my biggest ambitions as a kid was to play at this stadium as a Mariner after watching from the stands as a junior and I cannot wait to do that.”
She added: “Mariners fans can expect me to work hard for everything and give everything for the club.
“I love the hard work and cannot wait to put my all into this season, to work with Emily, to see what she can get out of me and what I can produce to help the team.”
Meanwhile, the Mariners were also busy re-signing a mixture of first-team and up and coming talent over the weekend, securing four exisiting players to improved contracts.
Among those is forward Shadeene Evans, who has put pen-to-paper on a new one-year extension ahead of the upcoming Ninja A-League season.
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The 23-year-old will now enter her second season with the club after a debut campaign on the coast which saw her feature 12 times, predominantly as an impact substitute for Husband’s side.
After helping the Mariners reach last season Semi-Finals, Evans then went away and lit up the NPLW NSW competition, scoring four goals in nine appearances for Northern Tigers.
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Furthermore, the Borroloola local also spent time in the UK during the off-season training with English Women’s side Charlton Athletic as part of Indigenous Football Week 2024.
Elsewhere, the Mariners have handed talented midfielder Tess Quilligan a new two-year contract.
Signing on until 2026, Quilligan started seven matches for Central Coast last season and went on to finish her first full Ninja A-League campaign having made 10 appearances overall.
“I have had Emily as a coach for a long time at both the Mariners and when I was younger,” said Quilligan. ‘She is someone who has already taught me so much and I know that I will only continue to learn from her.
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“I can’t wait for the season to start in just a few weeks’ time, to get back out on the pitch and play for the Coast.”
Speaking on the deal, Husband commented: “I have seen Tess develop as a footballer for a number of years, so it is really nice to be able to award her with a full A-League contract.
“For her to be able to continue her path of development with us will be great for everyone, exciting for her and exciting for us as she is a real talent for the future.”
She continued: “No matter where the pressure comes from, she is someone who is able to retain the ball and is so comfortable with it. Defensively she gets herself in brilliant positions and reads the game so well, so we are excited for her to continue to grow as a footballer here on the Coast.”
Finally the Mariners have also secured the services of two top talents, handing scholarship deals to both Tiana Fuller and Lily McMahon.
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A key part of the Junior Matildas squad, Fuller joins the Mariners having most recently been a part of the NSW Metro U16’s squad which secured victory at the National Football Championships where she scored in the final.
The 16-year-old also brings with her NPLW NSW first grade experience having played 25 matches for Football NSW Institute last season, scoring four goals.
“I am so excited to be part of this club,” said Fuller, of whom the Mariners believe to be one of the most promising young midfielders in Australia.
“When Emily reached out to me, I was speechless, it just feels right to have joined the Mariners for my first season in the A-League.”
Meanwhile in forward McMahon, Central Coast are also welcoming back another academy graduate to the club.
Most recently playing for NPLW NSW side Northern Tigers FC, McMahon enjoyed a blistering season in front of goal, scoring 18-times to finish third in the race for the Golden Boot.
Handed the captain’s armband aged just 21, McMahon was also named in the NPLW NSW First Grade Women’s Team of the Year and will add plenty of firepower to the Mariners heading into the new campaign.
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“Watching both Tiana and Lily this year in the NPL, both of them have had really strong seasons with their respective clubs and we are pleased to have them both signed with us,” Husband said.
“Tiana expresses such great flair at a young age, has good pace to get in and behind and has so much potential. She is someone that has an incredibly bright future and we are thrilled to be able to work with her this season to help her develop as a footballer.
Husband added: “Lily had a brilliant year with Tigers, stepping up to take the responsibility on as captain and as a goalscorer. Her positioning this season was really strong as well as her finishing, so this is a great reward for her efforts.”
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