Beth Mason-Jones grew up hearing the name Vicki Linton muttered in Victoria's soccer community as one to impress as she progressed through the junior ranks but their paths did not cross.
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Now they will, as the two will be on the same side - Canberra United.
Prior to taking on the head role at United in late 2020, Linton coached at Melbourne Victory from 2010 to 2012; a few years before Mason-Jones signed on to the Melbourne side in 2016.
"As a player, I really find it's important to take different opportunities and work with different people. So that's why I'm excited to work with Vicki," she said.
"I remember when I was a lot younger, and Vicki was Victory's head coach and the NTC women's head coach so it was like, 'oh, Vicki Linton, she's the one you want to impress'.
"So, I've never worked with her. I was a bit bit young when she was with the NTC program and the Victory women. So, I'm just really looking forward to working with her, as well as Chantel Jones.
"I've had a chat with her and she sounds like she's really professional. She obviously worked in the NWSL over in America and she just sounds like a coach I can really respond to."
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After taking 15 months away from the game, Mason-Jones returned this year and signed with Victorian NPLW side Alamein United FC before gaining her United call up.
In only a matter of days she has packed up her life in Victoria in order to make it to Canberra and quarantine in time for pre-season.
The goalkeeper spent three seasons in the ALW with Victory during 2016-2019. She said she loved her time with the Victorian club and head coach Jeff Hopkins but it was time for a change.
"I literally just stopped altogether, it was a pre-COVID decision. I was just looking at other opportunities of employment and just taking a mental, physical, emotional break from the game. And I think that was really good for myself and I'm glad I did that ... [and] despite the whole COVID situation, I am in a much better place and I'm a lot stronger, mentally and I'm ready," she said.
"I'm really excited to be back and especially in the new environment, new girls, new coach, new everything. I'm just really excited for the challenge ahead. As I haven't been in the league the past two years, just taking a break, I think, that makes me all the more excited to be back.
"I'm really looking forward to it and can't wait to like get together with the girls and start training."
One thing she had been reflecting on during her 15 month hiatus from the game was the need to improve junior goalkeeper pathways in Australia.
Mason-Jones said off the field she wanted to fill the gaps she had witnessed as a junior, with the help of her coach Will Meadows who helped her prepare before each ALW season.
"I think goalkeepers need to be very technique based and I feel like that's really lacking in the junior side," she said.
"I find that there's been a real lack of support for female goalkeepers and that's probably why we're failing to produce so many goalkeepers.
"When I was at NTC, I got one goalkeeper session with a goalkeeper coach, I think maybe four times the whole season, and I found that was really disappointing like great for my feet work ... but I just feel like there's a lot of downfalls when it comes to junior goalkeepers, especially females, and hopefully I can look at putting something together with my coach to support them in the coming years."
The goalkeeper marks United's 12th signing ahead of the season's December 3 kick-off. Last season's semi-finalists have signed Lauren Keir, Hayley Taylor-Young, Richards, Maher, Michelle Heyman, Emma Ilijoski, Laura Hughes, Allira Toby, Holly Caspers, Margot Robinne and Chloe Middleton so far.