Gema Simon (born 19 July 1990) is an Australian international soccer player who plays for Newcastle Jets and the Australia women's national soccer team.
![]() Simon playing for the Matildas at the 2017 Algarve Cup | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Gema Simon | ||
Date of birth | (1990-07-19) 19 July 1990 (age 32) | ||
Place of birth | Armidale, Australia | ||
Height | 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) | ||
Position(s) | Left back / Winger | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Melbourne Victory | ||
Number | 7 | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2008–2014 | Newcastle Jets | 63 | (4) |
2013 | → Ottawa Fury (loan) | ||
2014–2015 | Melbourne Victory | 11 | (2) |
2015–2022 | Newcastle Jets | 67 | (4) |
2016 | → Suwon (loan) | ||
2017 | → Avaldsnes (loan) | 13 | (0) |
2022 | Þróttur Reykjavík | 15 | (0) |
2022– | Melbourne Victory | 0 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2009 | Australia U20 | 1 | (0) |
2014– | Australia | 11 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 November 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 April 2019 |
Simon was born in Armidale, New South Wales.[1] She is an Indigenous Australian, and grew up the eldest of three siblings.[2] Her cousin, Kyah Simon, is also an Australian international footballer.[3] Gema started playing football aged five.[2]
Simon was a member of the inaugural Newcastle Jets team in the W-League in 2008–09.
In May 2013, Simon joined USL W-League side Ottawa Fury.[4] She was not paid for her time at the club, but did receive off-field assistance.[5] She suffered an injury one month into the season and did not recover during her remaining two months with the side.[2]
In 2013, Simon was given the captaincy of the Jets.[6] She was awarded the Jets' Player of the Year award for the 2013–14 season[7]
After captaining Newcastle Jets in the 2013–14 season, Simon joined Melbourne Victory alongside Hannah Brewer.[8]
In October 2015, Simon re-joined the Newcastle Jets.[9]
After a rewarding season with Newcastle Jets, Simon signed a deal to play the winter season with Suwon in the WK League.[5]
After her loan at Suwon, Simon was announced as captain of Newcastle Jets once more.[10]
In mid-2009, Simon was called up to the Australia under-20 team for the 2009 AFC U-19 Women's Championship.[11] She made her debut for the side in a pre-tournament friendly against South Korea in July 2009.[12]
Simon was first called up to the Australian senior side for the 2014 Cyprus Cup.[13] She made her debut for the team in March 2014, playing a full match in a loss to Scotland in the Group Stage of the tournament.[14] She was again included in the Australia squad for the 2015 Cyprus Cup.[15]
Australia
Melbourne Victory FC (A-League Women) – current squad | |
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Australia squad – 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup | ||
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