By RUSSELL BENNETT
IN many ways, young Casey Comets star Jaymee Dudley is already living a dream she’s had her whole life.
For the past nine months, the 17-year-old been living in England – representing Birmingham City at a range of different levels, and studying sport and exercise science at Solihull College.
“Being able to play football every day, and go to college … it’s what I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” she said on a cold, wintery night at Comets Stadium in Cranbourne recently.
Jaymee was born in Oxfordshire in the UK before moving to Australia with her family as a nine-year-old. Since then she’s represented a host of different local clubs, and at different levels – winning championships along the way.
She was on the verge of breaking into the Comets women’s starting 11 at Christmas time in 2012 when she went and trained with Birmingham’s Centre of Excellence for 10 weeks.
Then, last season, she was offered the chance to return – this time to also go to college and continue her education alongside her soccer journey.
She has represented Birmingham City’s under-17s; the academy program (in line with college); and also the reserves side for the Blues’ FA Women’s Super League outfit – the highest level in the country.
Jaymee plays up front as an attacking player and has quickly formed a reputation for her pace and agility across the field, but she’s also been tried in a range of different positions across the pitch – giving her a unique understanding of her opponents.
After having recently completed her season with Birmingham, Jaymee returned home – and to the Comets – for a whirlwind couple of weeks.
She was hoping to get three games in with the Comets, but Friday night’s home game was called off.
“I want to keep going because I’m going to miss the beginning of our pre-season, so being back will kind of kick-start my pre-season,” she said.
“It’s been really nice this season because I’ve been able to play in an age group of my own (with the under-17s) but I also find that playing above my age group has pushed me and helped me improved to hopefully become as good as I can.”
Jaymee is always working on improving her game and is in constant contact with the Blues’ coaches – receiving feedback on her strengths and weaknesses.
“Over the next three or four years I’m looking at pushing into the first team at Blues,” she said.
“The money is now coming into the women’s side of the game, which is a great thing.
“Hopefully I can get paid to play football – that would be the dream, to be a professional footballer – but also to play an international.
“That would be unbelievable.”
Watch this space.
