Jade Emms, Madalyn Emms, Samantha Emms, Brooke Emms. Photo: Supplied.

Women’s soccer in Australia is growing and just last month four Harden sisters were selected into the Wagga City Wanderers National Premier League Program for 2021.

Madalyn, 18, and Samantha, 16, made the first grade womens squad whilst Jade, 14, and Brooke, 13, made the under 15s.

The four sisters also played for the Wanderers in the NPL Capital this year.

NPL Capital football is the highest-level competition for the round ball sport in the ACT region.

It began back in 2019 when the Wanderers decided to get a female program into NPL Capital, that a local soccer coach in Harden encouraged the Emms girls to trial.

The three older Emms sisters made the Wanderers NPL Capital side that year, which was a real step-up from what they were used to in Harden.

The trio also made it into the Combined High Schools state team this year and this is a testament for three sisters from the Riverina to make the same team.

Unfortunately, the 2020 Girls NSW CHS State Championships was
cancelled due to Covid disruptions.

Despite a shortened season for Wanderers football this year, both Jade and Brooke’s Wanderers side made the semis whilst Madalyn and Samantha’s senior side made great progress.

Preseason training for the girls has already commenced at once a week and this will be doubled after Christmas.

There will be 21 rounds of games next season with finals football following on from that.

Brooke plays as a striker, Jade plays in midfield, Madalyn is a centre-back and Samantha is a goalkeeper.

If you were to field a four-a-side you’d have your positions sorted with the Emms girls.

At just 15 last year, Samantha was the Wanderers first choice in the number 1 jersey.

Being at that age as an NPL goalkeeper is an incredible achievement.

All-year round Samantha trains with a goalkeeping coach in Wagga and will be soon travelling to Canberra to train with a former national player from America.

Brooke and Jade also train all-year round being part of the Talent Sport Program.

The program is rolled out from Football NSW and it aims to help country players play at elite level, it also acknowledges talented players with the potential of reaching state or national selection.

Mum Cindy West has been constantly on the road driving the girls to training and she said the girls are really excited for the new season.

All four Emms girls go to Murrumburrah High School and
Madalyn has just finished Year 12 this year.

Christopher Tan