As years go, 2017 has been a highlight for Westfield Matildas midfield boss, Newcastle-born Emily Van Egmond.
@Em_Surf was a crucial part of the Matildas side that made world headlines by winning the recent Tournament of Nations in the USA.
Defeating the USA, Japan AND Brazil (6-1 no less) was pretty amazing and the central midfielder played all three matches for the rampaging Australians.
A few months earlier she tasted success in Germany, where the domestic double was won by her club VfL Wolfsburg, barely a month after she signed a two-year extension with her German employers.
And now, she gets to go back and play in her hometown Newcastle for her nation against the Brazilians as part of their two-match Australian tour.
The game in Newcastle is on Sept 19, three days after a first clash in Penrith, in Sydney’s West.
Life couldn’t be better for Emily van Egmond, who at 24 is at the peak of her powers as a midfield general.
FAMILY FOOTBALL
It’s perhaps no surprise she’s so good at football.
Emily’s Dad is former Caltex Socceroo defender Gary, who played at the Games in Seoul in 1988.
However, he never played at a senior World Cup like his daughter, who starred in 2015 and 2011 and is on track to play for the Green and Gold in 2019 in France.
“Me and Dad always used to have a bit of a joke that I was the only one who has been to a World Cup and he was the only one who has gone to a Games,” she told Matildas.footballaustralia.com.au last year.
“Now I’m going to Rio and I can one-up him in that regard.”
CLUB SUCCESS IN GERMANY
Van Egmond has been a staple for the Jets in the Westfield W-League over the years – she’s enjoyed multiple spells with her hometown club.
But she’s spread her wings in recent times with great success.
She has played for Frankfurt in the German league – the club providing her with an entree into the highly respected German league – before a very successful move to Lower Saxony.
In April, Van Egmond signed a contract extension that will keep her at German powerhouse VfL Wolfsburg for two more years.
And in May, Van Egmond capped a fabulous week by winning the German Cup final with VfL.
The 23-year-old Aussie side, dubbed the “She Wolves”, defeated SC Sand. The win confirmed a double after VfL won the Bundesliga the previous week with a 2-2 draw against FF USV Jena.
HOMETOWN RETURN
Newcastle has proved to be a real football hotbed of talent, with van Egmond just one of a number of national team players produced in the NNSW region.
“It’s awesome to be able to play for your country in front of your home town,” van Egmond told Matildas.footballaustralia.com.au.
“Newcastle has been a strong breeding ground for quite some time with women’s footballers.
“We have the likes of Cheryl Salisbury who is the most capped player to date from here. Joey Peters, Lauren Colthorpe, Katie Gill, the list goes on.
“I’m very fortunate to be able to play for my country here in front of my home town.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
It’s been quite a year for van Egmond.
And she’s love to cap it with another dominant performance for Australia against the Brazilians on Sept 19.
