A-League Loan Watch

Dec 28

Louisville has 5 players on loan in the A-League and they are definitely enjoying themselves in the Australian weather more than you and I are enjoying this terrible winter (unless you are some sort of psychopath who enjoys subzero wind chills). Let take a look at how they are doing so far this A-League season.

Jordyn Bloomer

Jordyn is enduring a very Louisville-like experience in Sydney as her club, the Western Sydney Wanderers are 10th out of 11th in the A-League table while sitting on zero points and a negative seven goal differential. What Bloomer is getting is the experience of stopping shots. She has saved 23 shots out of 32 with two of those shots being converted penalties. She has started all five matches but was pulled at halftime in the most recent match vs. rival Sydney FC. I didn’t see any report of an injury, so this may be something to watch. If she doesn’t get her starting job back look for her to be recalled to Louisville sooner vs. later.

Hillary Beall

Hillary is enjoying a much better experience in terms of her team’s performance with Western United FC. Her club currently sits 3rd in the table with a flawless record of 12 points from 4 matches. Beall has started all 4 matches and kept a clean sheet in her professional debut. In each of the next 3 matches she gave up a single goal. She was the captain of the team in all four matches. In contrast to Bloomer, Beall has only had to make 7 saves on 11 shots. Beall and teammate Jess McDonald as in action at 1 AM tomorrow/tonight vs. Newcastle.

Jessica McDonald

Speaking of Jess, she is enjoying a typical Jess-like season with 2 goals in 4 matches. Of some interest, former Louisville draft pick Sydney Cummings has the same goal tally for the club. While Beall, Bloomer and Ekic are on loan to get experience, one has to assume McDonald is in Australia to earn a little extra money and presumably avoid this terrible Kentucky winter. Good on her for the hustle, but shame on us for the environment that dictates that professional women’s soccer players do not get paid enough to enjoy a true off-season. I don’t personally know Jess’s motivation, so perhaps it’s unfair to assume that she would enjoy a few months off lounging on a beach, but I know I would.

Alex Chidiac

Penguin enthusiast and mascot devotee, Alex Chidiac is having another nice season in the A-League with the Melbourne Victory. Her club sits midtable at 6th currently, but has enjoyed an improved run in form, winning their last three matches. Alex has a goal and 2 assists in her stint back in Melbourne. Albeit a small sample, she is experiencing her best production of her career with .6 goal contributions/90 minutes based on a career average of .34/90 minutes. Of special note, her goal was an Olimpico.

Emina Ekic

On the good news/bad news front, Emina was having a fantastic season with Melbourne City FC. Her club sits at the tops of the table with 15 points from 6 matches. Emina has made 5 starts and appeared in all six matches. She scored 4 times and has an assist for a 1.03 goal contribution/90 minutes average. She converted the decisive penalty in Melbourne City’s 1-0 victory over Perth Glory, but sustained a worrying ankle injury in the process. The injury was non-contact and painful enough to elicit “a bit of a scream” from Emina and she was on crutches after the match. We all wish Emina a speedy recovery. The club hopes to know more in a day or so. If it is more on the serious side, expect her to return to Louisville for treatment.

Michael Shaw