Central Coast Mariners have signed Tiana Fuller and Lily McMahon on scholarship contracts for the upcoming Ninja A-League season.
The pair join Emily Husband’s team for their first season of A-League football after both having strong NPL NSW campaigns.
Only 16 years old, Fuller is regarded as one of the most promising young midfielders in Australia.
A current key part of Australia’s Junior Matildas squad, she arrives on the Coast ready to take the next step in her footballing career.
Fuller joins the Mariners having recently been a part of NSW Metro U16s victory at the National Footballing Championships, scoring in the final, while she has also just finished her first season of NPL NSW first grade football.
She played 25 matches for the Football NSW Institute, starting 20 of them, scoring five goals across the season as she helped her side finish the year with their most wins since 2019.
“I am so excited to be part of this club,” Filler said.
“When Emily reached out to me, I was speechless, it just feels right to have joined the Mariners for my first season in the A-League.
“The culture seemed from the outside to be really nice and positive and having been here now with the girls for a little bit I can tell that that is the case.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to be here on the Coast, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Former Mariners Academy forward Lily McMahon has also signed her first Ninja A-League contract, fresh off an outstanding season with Northern Tigers FC.
Given the armband at just 21 years of age, McMahon scored 18 goals in all competitions, finishing third in the NPL NSW Golden Boot race.
The forward was rewarded for her incredible campaign by being named in the NPL NSW First Grade Women’s Team of the Year.
“I’m over the moon to have signed for the Mariners; as a Central Coast local there is no other team that I would have wanted to sign for,” she said.
“Coming through the Academy, it just feels right to be here playing for this club, wearing this badge.
“The season is just a few weeks away which is super exciting; we have a great group of girls and I can’t wait to see what we can do.”
Central Coast Mariners Ninja A-League Head Coach Emily Husband said both Fuller and McMahon had really strong seasons in the NPL this year with their respective clubs.
“Tiana expresses such great flair at a young age, has good pace to get in and behind and has so much potential,” she said.
“She is someone who has an incredibly bright future and we are thrilled to be able to work with her this season to help her develop as a footballer.
“Lily had a brilliant year with Tigers, stepping up to take the responsibility on as captain and as a goalscorer.
“Her positioning this season was really strong as well as her finishing, so this is a great reward for her efforts.
“It is really nice to be able to give both Tiana and Lily a platform to be able to develop in a professional environment.
“It is now up to them to put the work in to continue to progress, which I have no doubt they will.”