Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Albert Perez/Eastern Suburbs FC

Eastern Suburbs FC Women’s pair Tegan Riding and Jenna McCormick will be part of Canberra United’s Westfield W-League squad this season.

The duo, both 21, were recently confirmed as part of the defending Westfield W-League Champion’s 20 player squad for the upcoming season, joining the likes of Matildas star Michelle Heyman.

The versatile McCormick played for Adelaide United in the Westfield W-League prior to joining Easts and was named the South Australian club’s Player of the Season for the previous campaign.

Playing predominantly in the backline for Easts, she guided the team to the second-best defensive record in PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Women’s competition as well as chiming in with 7 goals in 19 appearances.

Attacking midfielder Riding also demonstrated an eye for goal this season - notching a club best 26 goals in 21 appearances to help the club to third on the table.

McCormick and Riding take the number of Easts players confirmed for the upcoming Westfield W-League season to four - joining Chantelle Ryder and Rosie Sutton, who were announced for Adelaide United last week.

Recently re-signed Easts Women’s Coach Garrath McPherson said the number of players promoted to the Westfield W-League this season was justification of the club’s approach to the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues.

“The signings are recognition for the unrelenting commitment to our philosophy of our possession based football,” McPherson explained.

“I remember addressing the new squad at the start of this year and asked them for a commitment to play 'our' style regardless of the game and the situation."

"It was always going to be a fine line between teaching players to win in the performance phase of the national curriculum and setting an example for our junior NPL girls.”

"Whilst we fell agonisingly close to winning the inaugural NPL season, the W-league signings are reward for our performances this season,” he concluded.