By Mitchell Keenan

At the youthful age of 20, Tuggeranong United goalkeeper Georgina Worth has had a wealth of experience in football. Having represented her country with the Young Matildas and playing as backup to Mackenzie Arnold for Brisbane Roar in the W-League, Worth is fast becoming one of Australia’s finest young goalkeepers.

Born in Brisbane, Georgina moved to Canberra at the age of three and grew up in the Capital. Her first experience with football came when a group of school friends decided to form a mixed team playing in an under 6’s competition with Woden Valley FC. From the very first game, she knew it was something she wanted to continue doing.

“…from there I haven’t stopped playing, it’s just been a massive part of my life in keeping healthy but also just socially as well,” Worth said.

It is no secret that Worth’s position as a goalkeeper is the least preferred on the field to most, and although she started out as an outfield player, her first big opportunity in football came in the role of a shot-stopper.

“When I got to about 13, my coach said look you’ve got an opportunity to go to nationals and play as a goalkeeper and I think you might get noticed playing there rather than on-field.”

The change made all the difference, as Worth was chosen in the all-stars team after the tournament.

“It was kind of a bit of a light bulb moment where I think I might actually be able to go with this and get a bit further being a goalkeeper.”

In the following years, Worth started playing and training with the ACTAS academy, and was noticed by scouts of the Young Matildas, being chosen to represent Australia both with the U/17’s and U/20’s sides on a number of occasions.

“It was something I was dreaming of doing since I started playing football, so to be recognised and to be a part of that squad was massive for me… it’s really just set me up for my future, and from playing in that team I’ve realised that’s what I want to do and what I want to keep on doing.”

Georgina returned to her city of birth in signing for Brisbane Roar at the beginning of the 2016-17 W-League season, and although only playing a backup role to Matilda’s goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, Worth is relishing the opportunity to train in a professional environment and surround herself with an experienced squad.

“It was really challenging training 4 or 5 times a week and travelling for away games every couple of weeks, but I learnt a lot and being around players like Katrina Gorry and Mackenzie Arnold was unbelievable, it’s not something everyone gets the opportunity to do.”

In an unexpected debut for the club, Worth was first called into action late in the season with Arnold being sent off conceding a penalty with 7 minutes remaining in the game.

“…at the time I had so much adrenaline and energy that I didn’t really have time for nerves, but it was just surreal experience and I enjoyed every second that I was out there on the field.”

The resulting penalty was put wide, but Worth then went on to start the next game, coming up against eventual champions Melbourne City, enjoying every minute out there playing in Australia’s premier women’s competition.

In the W-League off season, Worth chose to return to former club Tuggeranong United, whilst also resuming study of physiotherapy at the University of Canberra. The PS4 NPL Women’s side have started the season with two wins from their first two games including a 1-0 victory over last year’s premiers Belconnen United, and with the experience of Worth and Canberra United striker Meg McLaughlin, Georgina thinks her club can pose a serious threat.

“I really think this year we’ve got a good chance at making the grand final and surprising the league’s front runners as title contenders”.

Tuggeranong will head to Woden Park Enclosed for a 3pm kick-off today, facing a hungry Woden Weston FC, who are search of their first points of the season in a battle of the south-siders.