By LIAM TWOMEY
NOTHING was going to stop Aliesha Newman from pulling on the green and gold, not even a torn quadriceps muscle.
The 17-year-old was selected to represent Australia in December last year in Fiji against some of the most exciting young soccer talent from around the world.
However, during the tournament, Newman sustained the potentially campaign ending injury.
“It was in the second game but I still played,” she said.
“It was very heavily taped though. I still went out there. It was only a grade one tear but as I kept playing, when I got back it was about a grade two or grade three.
“I was happy with the way I played considering how sore I was,” she said.
“I was told that I shouldn’t really be playing but I said that I came up here to do a job and I didn’t really want to stop. We only had two or three games left so I thought I should get out there.”
Newman went on to play an integral part in the Australian side winning games against two Fijian teams as well as almost toppling New Zealand.
Playing out of the midfield, the Hoppers Crossing resident kicked three goals.
Since returning home there has been no slowing down with Newman recently pulling on the Victorian jumper for more representative duties.
“I just got back from the Victorian Championships in Canberra in the Victorian under-19 team,” she said.
“We came equal fourth overall but because of goal difference we were knocked down to fifth.
“I played an okay tournament and I was selected in the shadow Australian squad, so that is like an emergency for the actual under-19 Australian team. They will be travelling to the UK in January so if someone gets injured I’ll get the chance to get selected.”
With state and national representation already on her resume, Newman has earmarked the women’s soccer competition – the W-League – as one of her goals for the future.
For her outstanding sporting achievements Newman has been named this month’s Don Deeble Rising Star nominee.
The award is run by the Sunshine Western Region Sports Club in conjunction with the Star News Group.
Aliesha will receive $1000 donated by the Yarraville Club Cricket Club and other prizes to assist in his future sporting goals.
The Don Deeble Rising Star Award recognises young athletes in the western suburbs who have achieved outstanding results at a state and national level.
