Emma Kay Checker (born 11 March 1996) is an Australian former professional soccer player who played as a defender. She represented Australia at under-17, under-20 and senior levels. Checker made her senior international debut for Australia in November 2012 at the age of 16.
 Emma Checker before a match for Melbourne Victory, December 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Emma Kay Checker | ||
| Date of birth | 11 March 1996 | ||
| Place of birth | Ashford, Australia | ||
| Position(s) | Centre back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Melbourne Victory | ||
| Number | 15 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2013 | Adelaide United | 17 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | Melbourne Victory | 22 | (1) |
| 2015–2017 | Canberra United | 15 | (0) |
| 2017 | Hyundai Steel Red Angels | 3 | (0) |
| 2017–2019 | Adelaide United | 24 | (0) |
| 2019–2023 | Melbourne City | 39 | (2) |
| 2020 | FC Fleury 91 | 1 | (0) |
| 2021 | Selfoss | 18 | (0) |
| 2022 | → Umeå (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Melbourne Victory | 17 | (2) |
| International career | |||
| Australia U17 | |||
| Australia U20 | |||
| 2012–2021 | Australia | 7 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editAdelaide United
editChecker made her senior debut for Adelaide United on the opening day of the 2011–12 W-League season, aged 15.[1] She went on to make six further appearances for the club that season, and played in Adelaide's first W-League victory in 34 matches;[2][3] Checker was one of eight players retained by Adelaide United for the 2012–13 season,[3] and went on to make eleven appearances that season.[2] On 31 May 2013, she became the first female in nearly 20 years to play in an under-18s match with men, when she represented West Torrens Birkalla against White City.[4]
Melbourne Victory
editPrior to the start of the 2013–14 season, Checker switched to Melbourne Victory.[5] She made her debut for the side on 16 November; despite scoring the opening goal of the game after four minutes, she was unable to prevent Melbourne from slipping to a 5–1 defeat against Sydney.[6] She won her first Championship against Brisbane Roar in the 2014 W-League Grand Final.
Canberra United
editIn September 2015, Checker joined Canberra United.[7] On 5 January 2016, she suffered an ACL injury and was ruled out for the rest of the season.[8] She returned from injury for the following season on 28 December 2016 against Melbourne Victory[9] and went on to be part of the 2016–17 W-League premiership winning team.
Hyundai Steel Red Angels
editIn 2017, during the W-League off-season Checker played with Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels in South Korea before a knee injury interrupted her spell.[10]
Return to Adelaide United
editOn 22 September 2017, Checker returned to Adelaide United, signing a two-year contract.[11] She made history by becoming the youngest captain of a W-League team during her stint at Adelaide.[12] She went on and reasserted herself as one of the country's strongest and most reliable defenders over the past two seasons. She sits fourth on Adelaide's all-time appearance list with 41 games.[13]
Melbourne City
editOn 19 September 2019, Checker signed with Melbourne City ahead of the 2019-20 W-League season.[14] She went on to win both the Premiership and Championship, having made 14 appearances across the campaign and was a key part of a defence that conceded just five goals for the season.
On 22 December 2020, Checker resigned with Melbourne City for the 2020-21 W-League season.[15] She was appointed captain ahead of the upcoming season.[16] After four months on the sideline, she returned from injury in Round 4 against Melbourne Victory. In Round 5, she scored her second ever W-League goal against her former side Adelaide United.
In August 2021, Checker re-signed with Melbourne City for two more years and confirmed she will remain captain.[17]
In August 2023, after four seasons at the club, Checker departed Melbourne City.[18]
Off-season at FC Fleury 91
editOn 15 June 2020, Checker became the latest player to head to Europe, signing with French club FC Fleury 91 on a two-year contract.[19] She made her Division 1 Féminine debut against Issy on 26 September 2020. During her second overseas stint, she suffered a stress fracture in her fibular, cutting short her time in France.[20]
Off-season at Selfoss
editIn April 2021, Checker signed with Selfoss of the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild kvenna.[21]
Loan to Umeå
editIn August 2022, Checker joined Swedish club Umeå on a short-term loan for three months before the beginning of the 2022–23 A-League Women season.[22]
Return to Melbourne Victory
editIn August 2023, Checker returned to Melbourne Victory.[23] Checker retired from professional football at the end of the 2023–24 A-League Women.[24]
International career
editPrior to making her Adelaide United debut, Checker made her debut for Australia's under-17 team in a friendly against New Zealand.[1] She was part of her country's unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, and her performances earned her a place in Australia's senior training camp in March 2012.[1] Still aged 16, she was selected for a friendly against New Zealand on 24 June 2012, but remained an unused substitute.[1] Instead, she made her senior international debut on 23 November 2012, playing the entire match in a 4–0 victory over Hong Kong.[25]
In September 2019, after an impressive season with Adelaide United, Checker was called up to Australia's senior training camp in preparation for their upcoming friendlies against Chile. In November 2019, she came on as a substitute for both matches against Chile.[26]
Personal life
editChecker graduated from Deakin University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Business with distinction, majoring in Public Relations.[27]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Mammone, Christian (24 October 2012). "Checker on the rise for Lady Reds". Football Australia. Archived from the original on 29 November 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
- ^ a b "Emma Checker (Adelaide) W-League Football Player Profile". Yahoo! Sport New Zealand. Archived from the original on 29 November 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
- ^ a b Migliacco, Val (19 October 2012). "Adelaide's Lady Reds ready to dump bunnies tag". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
- ^ "Rising soccer star Emma Checker takes on the boys – and dominates". News.com.au. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
- ^ "Lisa De Vanna and Emma Checker join Melbourne Victory". The Women's Game. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
- ^ Turner, David (16 November 2013). "Emma Checker wins friends with a debut goal after just four minutes". Herald Sun. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
- ^ Gibbs, Russ (29 September 2015). "Emma Checker is relishing the chance to shine at Canberra United". Canberra United.
- ^ Tuxworth, Jon (5 January 2016). "Canberra United defender Emma Checker out for season with torn ACL". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ "Season 9 Preview: Canberra United". The Women's Game. 4 November 2016.
- ^ Tiernan, Eamonn (25 May 2017). "Matildas and Canberra United defender Emma Checker getting sick and tired of rehab". The Canberra Times.
- ^ Migliaccio, Val (22 September 2017). "Adelaide United sign Emma Checker for new W-League season, defender bids for more Matildas game time". The Advertiser.
- ^ "Matilda Checker makes French switch | the World Game". theworldgame.sbs.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 February 2021.
- ^ "Melbourne City FC signs Australian defender Emma Checker".
- ^ "News - A Leagues | KEEPUP".
- ^ "Emma Checker signs on with Melbourne City". 21 December 2020.
- ^ "Team news: City confirm round 1 squads and lock in captains - Melbourne City". 28 December 2020.
- ^ "Emma Checker re-signs with Melbourne City FC for two years". Melbourne City. 24 August 2021.
- ^ "Emma Checker departs Melbourne City". Melbourne City. 21 August 2023.
- ^ "Emma Checker makes the move to France". matildas.com.au. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ Ann Odong (16 October 2020). "Emma Checker: 'The most uncomfortable times in my life have provided the greatest lessons'". myfootball.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ Ívan Guðjón Baldursson (2 April 2021). "Selfoss fær ástralska landsliðskonu (Staðfest)". Fótbolti.net (in Icelandic). Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "City Captain agrees short-term loan". Melbourne City. 3 August 2022.
- ^ "Melbourne Victory Signs Emma Checker". Melbourne Victory. 22 August 2023.
- ^ "Emma Checker calls time on her professional football career". Melbourne Victory FC. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "Emma Checker makes her Matildas debut". Football Federation SA Inc. 23 November 2012. Archived from the original on 4 April 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
- ^ "Matildas training camp squad announced". 23 September 2019.
- ^ "Thank you for pushing me, challenging me and supporting me through this journey. Officially a grad 🤗👩🏽🎓🤍". Instagram. Emma Checker. Retrieved 4 September 2023.