As we tick over halfway of the ‘Breakthrough Stars’ series we continue to search for the youth players set to establish themselves in the first team or get their chance to show their worth.
With each season bringing new talent to the fore the 2021/22 season promises to be no different with a host of young talents set to emerge and try to cement themselves as fan favourites.
This Week: Newcastle Jets
It was a difficult season for the Jets last time out with tough viewing for their fans. Registering just five wins, six draws and 15 losses would be a tough season exacerbated by just one win coming at home for the Jets.
The reading doesn’t hold much better statistically with Jets registering the fewest goals in the competition at just 24. With 38 goals against placing them middle of the pack demonstrating the few blow-out score lines conceded the only consolation.
Offensively was the biggest let down the Newcastle side, severely underperforming compared to the rest of the competition. With just over three and a half shots on target per 90’ placing them last in the competition, despite their 13.38 shots per 90’ being ninth in the league.
This horrific shooting led to just a 0.05 goals per shot ratio across the course of the season. Adding to the sense of wastefulness the Jets registered 582 crosses last season- third most in the league- with little end product to show for it.
Adding to the offensive woes is last season’s leading goalscorer with seven goals scored for Newcastle, Roy O’Donovan has now departed to Sydney Olympic, leaving an already underperforming side further shorthanded for goals.
With the Jets second and third top goalscorers scoring a combined total equal to that of Roy O’Donovan’s the side will be desperate to add goal threat to their roster. Despite new signing Savvas Siatravanis being signed, a return of seven goals in 42 matches since 2019 will be a big ask to turn the sides form around.
Newcastle Jets’ Breakthrough Star: Archie Goodwin
In contrast to the Jets’ tough season was 16-year-old Archie Goodwin. The youngster made his debut in last seasons’ 1-0 win away against Melbourne Victory. He went on to play a total of 338 minutes for the remainder of the campaign, including three starts.
Archie Goodwin should be one to excite the fans, with such a small sample of games played in his first season he has already notched both a goal and assist, the former coming from a superb curled shot from 25 yards.
Delving deeper Goodwin took 12 shots total with 50% on target and ended the season with an expected goals rating of 0.93- aligning with his goals scored. This should excite the Jets who severely underperformed their expected goals tally of 31 last season.
This is noteworthy as it shows both an expectancy for the upcoming season that should Jets hit the shots they should, and the capability of Goodwin to turn good chances and positions into converted goals.
Despite his young age Goodwin has shown his confidence in his displays with the club desperate to keep hold of him for the foreseeable future despite his exciting showing at the end of last season and an expected improvement this season coming.
Goodwin is no stranger to goalscoring, having been prolific throughout youth levels including scoring an average of more than one goal a game at NPL level in U13, 14 and 16 levels.
Following injury problems in the foot Goodwin got back into action with the Jets NPL Mens side registering five goals in nine games while he began to train with the first team.
Following a promising season Goodwin has already spoken about his desire to become the Jets number one striker, showing his full ambition to take every opportunity by the horns.
Having already secured an A-league Men’s goal of the week award, confidence will be brimming for the youngster who will be eager to establish himself a break into the first team this season and fill the offensive void.
Will Goodwin help the Jets fire?
The aim this season for the Newcastle Jets this season is clear: get the ball in the net. With a relatively stable defence to build upon, they must fix the other end of the pitch.
And they may just have their solution waiting in the wings already. Goodwin has demonstrated across multiple brackets his knack for scoring goals, and with two seasons playing men’s competition in both NPL and A-league he’ll just keep improving.
Having already shown his ability to score equal to the amount he should, with more game time and cohesion with other attackers in the squad such as Mauragis and Yengi should come more chances, more shots and more goals.
Archie Goodwin is a player with buckets of potential and could start turning the cogs to help Arthur Papas get the Newcastle Jets back into a position to be competitive again. Expect to see much more of him this season and hopefully for the Jets, a lot more goals.
