Rhali Dobson

Rhali Dobson (born 21 April 1992) is an Australian soccer player who played for the Australia women's national under-17 soccer team in 2007, Australia women's national soccer team (Matildas) in 2014 and in the W-League for Melbourne City (2017–21) and Newcastle Jets.

Rhali Dobson
Personal information
Full name Rhali Dobson
Date of birth (1992-04-21) 21 April 1992
Place of birth Wauchope, New South Wales, Australia
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Wauchope SC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Newcastle Jets 6 (0)
2011–2012 Newcastle Jets 9 (2)
2012–2013 Merewether United
2013 Adamstown Rosebud
2013–2017 Newcastle Jets 26 (9)
2014 → Adamstown Rosebud (loan)
2016 → Adamstown Rosebud (loan)
2017 → Merewether United (loan)
2017–2021 Melbourne City 45 (3)
2021–present Bolwarra Lorn
International career‡
2007 Australia U17 3 (0)
2014 Australia 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 January 2020
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 March 2017

Early life

Dobson began playing soccer at the age of five in her hometown of Wauchope, New South Wales, playing for the Wauchope Soccer Club.[1][2]

Club career

Dobson began her career at Newcastle Jets and was a member of their 2008-09 inaugural W-League squad which came runner up in the premier and semi-finalists in that season's championships.[3] She would continue to play intermittent seasons for the Jets, but was dropped from the squad in 2012, joining first Merewether United and then moving to Adamstown Rosebud in circumstances that the Newcastle Herald described as "a far from amicable split".[4][5] Dobson's improved form would see her make top scorer in the WPL and return to the Jets in 2013.[6] A strong 2014 season saw Dobson selected for the National Team and score 6 times for the Jets, including her first top-flight brace in a 4–0 win over Adelaide United.[7] She briefly returned to Merewether United for the 2017 Northern NSW Football Women's Premier League season, after making 55 total appearances for the Jets since the 2008 season.[8]

On 24 September 2017 Dobson joined title defenders Melbourne City.[9] With City, she won two W-League Championships in the 17/18 and 19/20 seasons, making a second-half substitute appearance in the 2018 W-League Grand Final 2–0 victory over Sydney FC. Dobson made her 100th appearance in the W-League in the 20/21 season, the 28th player to do so since the league was founded.[10]

Dobson announced her retirement from football in March 2021 in order to support her partner, Matt Stonham, who has brain cancer. On 25 March 2021 she played her last professional match for Melbourne City in which she also scored a goal in a 2–1 win over Perth Glory, coincidentally the team against which she'd made her W-League debut.[11] Dobson returned to amateur football in May with men's side Bolwarra Lorn, coached by Stonham, in the Australian Zone League Two. This included two games in Bolwara's FFA Cup campaign, culminating in a 13–0 defeat by semi-professional men's side Lambton Jaffas in the preliminary fourth round.[12]

International career

Dobson played three matches for Australia under-17 in 2007, including at the 2007 Australian Youth Olympic Festival and 2007 AFC U-16 Women's Championship.[13]

Dobson made her international debut for Australia in April 2014 against Brazil, coming on as a late substitute for Lisa De Vanna to see out a 2-1 friendly victory in Brisbane.[14][15]

Personal life

Dobson works full-time as an occupational therapist in New South Wales.[16] Former Australia player Tracie McGovern is a cousin of Dobson.[17]

Dobson got engaged to her partner, Matt, at her last match for Melbourne City in March 2021.[11]

Honours

Club
Melbourne City

References
  1. Antunovich, Anita (9 December 2016). "On the Bench with Rhali Dobson". Northern NSW Football. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  2. "Wauchope's Rhali Dobson says a shift into right half with the Newcastle Jets has improved her reading of games in the W-League". Hastings Gazette. Fairfax Regional Media. 1 December 2011 – via EBSCOhost.
  3. Kerry, Craig (21 February 2014). "Dobson step closer to Matildas call-up". The Newcastle Herald. Fairfax Regional Media. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  4. Kerry, Craig (1 June 2013). "Merewether looking to move on". The Newcastle Herald. Fairfax Regional Media – via EBSCOhost.
  5. Kerry, Craig (8 June 2013). "Merewether ready for old mate". The Newcastle Herald. Fairfax Regional Media – via EBSCOhost.
  6. "Get to know... Rhali Dobson". 25 September 2017.
  7. "WLeague Stats".
  8. Valentine, Renee (27 February 2017). "Jets add boost as WPL prepares to launch". The Star. Fairfax Regional Media. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  9. "Melbourne City FC signs talented trio ahead of W-League title defence". Melbourne City. 24 September 2017. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  10. "Melbourne City's Rhali Dobson set to retire early: 'This is bigger than the sport'". 24 March 2021.
  11. "Melbourne City's Rhali Dobson gets engaged on the pitch after retiring to support ill partner". BBC Sport. 25 March 2021.
  12. "W-League star Rhali Dobson keen for FFA Cup shot at NPL big boys". 4 May 2021.
  13. Esamie, Thomas. "Under 17 Internationals for 2007". OzFootball.net. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  14. Kerry, Craig (11 April 2014). "Rhali Dobson still buzzing after Matildas' debut win". The Newcastle Herald. Fairfax Regional Media. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  15. Esamie, Thomas. "Matildas Internationals for 2015". OzFootball. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  16. Davutovic, David; Windley, Matt (24 September 2016). "Female footballers will be forced to quit sport if pay does not improve in W-League, survey reveals". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  17. "W-League Player of the Week: Rhali Dobson". W-League.com.au. Football Federation Australia. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
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