Newcastle Jets rising star Will Dobson is making headlines not just for finding the back of the net, but for the heartfelt message behind his now-trademark goal celebration.
Love in the air for Jets' teenage sensation
The 18-year-old local product has scored twice in his last three A-League Men appearances, and each time has celebrated by forming a love heart with his hands. After dedicating his first goal on home soil at McDonald Jones Stadium to his parents just before Christmas, his latest strike had a different recipient.
"The love-heart celebration, I said a few weeks back when I scored against Sydney it was for Mum and Dad. This week it was for the girlfriend," Dobson revealed following Newcastle's 3-1 away victory over competition leaders Auckland on New Year's Day.
This season marks a significant step up for the Jets academy graduate. Springboarding from last year's Australia Cup triumph, Dobson has earned a promotion to the starting XI for nine of his 10 appearances throughout the 2025-2026 campaign. This contrasts sharply with his debut season in 2024-2025, where he came off the bench for 11 of his 12 showings.
Building confidence and a clean sweep across the ditch
Dobson's increased role has translated into growing confidence on the pitch. He has now scored three times this season, opening his account against Auckland away on November 30, converting against Sydney FC on December 20, and repeating his success against Auckland on January 1.
"I've been playing a fair bit more so I do feel a lot more comfortable than last year," Dobson said. "I built some pretty solid building blocks last year to go on and do what I've done this year."
His performances have contributed to a remarkable piece of history for the Jets. The victory over Auckland completed a clean sweep of all three away games in New Zealand in the space of just six rounds. This included wins over Wellington and two victories at Auckland's Go Media Stadium, a venue where the hosts only lost twice in the entire previous season.
"I think it's huge," Dobson said of the achievement. "There's a lot of stuff behind the scenes that goes into travel and it's tough. We stuck together as a group and worked hard for each other."
Looking ahead with belief and dealing with adversity
The most recent win was particularly impressive, as the Jets were reduced to 10 men in the 21st minute against the league frontrunners. Dobson described it as a "huge performance" that has changed the squad's self-perception.
"I think it opened our eyes to what we can actually be in this league," the teenager stated. "A bit of confidence and belief in ourselves ... that's our standard now so we want to try and stay consistent."
The squad's resilience will be tested following the confirmation that teammates Alex Badolato and Christian Bracco have suffered season-ending ACL injuries. Dobson emphasised the importance of squad support and depth in overcoming these setbacks.
Newcastle's next challenge is a trip to AAMI Park to face Melbourne City on Sunday. The match carries added significance as the 3-1 win over Auckland saw City (17 points) jump to fifth on the ladder, edging ahead of Newcastle (15 points) by a single spot. The competition remains incredibly tight, with just 10 points separating first from eleventh.
For Dobson, the focus remains on building on his breakout season and maintaining the standard set by the Jets' historic New Zealand tour, all while sharing the love with his signature celebration.
