Tonkin relishing move to NPL NSW Women’s

For South Australian Ella Tonkin, playing in the National Premier Leagues NSW competition with Northern Tigers has helped take her career to the next level, including representing the Young Matildas at the 2022 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup.

Making the cross country move last year was daunting for Tonkin, but she is grateful with how well it has turned out for her.

“It was very out of my comfort zone and something I’d never really thought of before until the club reached out.

“[Playing for the Young Matildas at the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup] wouldn’t have happened without the Sydney move.

“It was a really good decision in the end and I’m very happy I made it.”

The 20-year-old is now also a 2023 NSW Future Matildas Scholarship recipient, just like several of the other young NPL NSW stars.

As well as playing for Adelaide United in the A-League Women’s competition, the talent that Tonkin gets to play with and against each week in the National Premier Leagues New South Wales has helped her develop in leaps and bounds.

“New South Wales NPL is pretty stacked with A-League players.”

The centre back has been in incredible form as of late, making the round 15 team of the week and scoring a couple of goals for the Tigers.

“I think it’s nice to get some recognition and get a couple of goals under my name for the team.

“I understand why people become strikers now!”

After a nasty foot injury caused a premature end to her A-League Women’s season with Adelaide United, Tonkin says that it has been great to get back her form and confidence with Northern Tigers.

“I was definitely in good form and starting, and then the foot injury came and I pretty much missed the entire season.

“Having to take a step back, rebuild, regain my form after quite a positive year was quite difficult.

“It’s been an important step in my recovery to get some NPL games in before going into the A-League season, just to rebuild that confidence and game awareness.”

Tonkin’s Northern Tigers currently sit in the ever-competitive middle of the ladder after an impressive 3-0 win over third-placed Spirit FC on the weekend and a 2-1 win over Emerging Jets midweek.

They have another big matchup this Sunday against Bulls FC Academy, but Tonkin is confident with their current form and believes that they can keep the wins coming to reach one of the finals positions.

“We are really really keen to make finals, so I think you’ll see us fighting every single game to the end to get that win and to get that finals spot.”