Blayney Selects 24-Player CommBank Young Matildas Squad For Aotearoa New Zealand Tour

Commonwealth Bank Young Matildas head coach Leah Blayney has named a 24 strong squad for the upcoming international against Aotearoa New Zealand in Auckland.   

Australia is set to travel across the Tasman for their first match internationally in almost three years, with the U20 side taking on the Junior Football Ferns on Sunday, 12 June 2022.   

The travelling squad includes a combination of established CommBank Young Matildas and exciting fresh faces.  Seven new names join the 17 players who featured in April’s international series in Canberra.  Meanwhile, all 24 players have participated in at least one of the recent training camps undertaken at Blacktown International Sportspark.   

Leah Blayney said: “It’s exciting to be naming the squad for the next milestone in our FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica 2022™ journey.”   

“As we continue to progress, we are establishing a core that is building an understanding of what it takes to perform and be successful at the highest level.  This is being complemented by the introduction of new players to the set-up whom have impressed and earned the chance to see how they can add to our team.”   

The squad sees seven Member Federations represented from Football NSW, Football Victoria, Northern NSW Football, Capital Football, Football Queensland, Football South Australia, and Football West.  With the National Premier Leagues (NPL) Women’s competition currently underway across the nation, 11 clubs will see representation across the squad.   

The CommBank Young Matildas in their international friendly against New Zealand in Canberra, April 2022. (Photo: Ann Odong / Football Australia)
The CommBank Young Matildas in their international friendly against New Zealand in Canberra, April 2022. (Photo: Ann Odong / Football Australia)

“We have been keeping a close eye on the players’ performances since the commencement of the NPL Women’s season.  The scouting of those matches, combined with the recent domestic camps, have provided us with a good understanding of the players chosen.  All the girls have worked hard and demonstrated qualities which could be beneficial and, as a result, they made the selection process difficult.”   

“Facing New Zealand allows us to continue refining the concepts embedded during the training camps in an overseas match environment.  It also allows us to gain an understanding of the squad’s ability to adapt to changing scenarios, particularly with many experiencing international travel for the first time in their careers.”   

The CommBank Young Matildas will depart for Aotearoa New Zealand on 8 June 2022.   

UPCOMING COMMBANK YOUNG MATILDAS FIXTURES:  
 
New Zealand v Australia 
Date: Sunday, 12 June 2022 
Time: 2.00pm (local) / 4.00pm (AEST) 
Venue: Kiwitea Street, Auckland 
Tickets: Open to the public free of charge 
 
COMMBANK YOUNG MATILDAS | SQUAD | 8 – 16 JUNE 2022 

NAME  

POSITION 

CLUB / MEMBER FEDERATION 

Alexia APOSTOLAKIS 

Defender 

Football NSW Institute / Football NSW 

Naomi CHINNAMA 

Defender 

Blacktown Spartans / Football Victoria 

Jynaya DOS SANTOS 

Forward 

Football NSW Institute / Football NSW 

Kirsty FENTON 

Defender 

NWS Spirit FC / NNSW Football 

Holly FURPHY  

Forward  

Santa Clara University / Football Victoria 

Daniela GALIC 

Midfielder 

Football NSW Institute / Football NSW 

Sheridan GALLAGHER 

Forward 

Illawarra Stingrays / Football NSW 

Katie GODDEN  

Forward  

DePaul University / Windlesham United  

Annabel HAFFENDEN 

Defender 

Unattached / Football Queensland 

Bryleeh HENRY 

Forward 

Blacktown Spartans / Football NSW 

Sarah HUNTER 

Midfielder 

APIA Leichhardt / Football NSW 

Sally JAMES  

Goalkeeper  

Blacktown Spartans / Capital Football  

Caitlin KARIC 

Forward 

FV Emerging Matildas / Football Victoria 

Abbey LEMON 

Forward 

Blacktown Spartans / Football NSW 

Chloe LINCOLN 

Goalkeeper 

Canberra United Academy / Capital Football 

Hana LOWRY 

Midfielder 

Blacktown Spartans / Football West 

Alana MURPHY 

Midfielder 

Blacktown Spartans / Football Victoria 

Jessika NASH 

Defender 

Blacktown Spartans / Football NSW 

Anna NORTON 

Goalkeeper 

Blacktown Spartans / Football NSW 

Jamilla RANKIN 

Defender 

Blacktown Spartans / NNSW Football 

Cushla RUE 

Defender 

Sydney University FC / Football NSW 

Charlize RULE 

Defender 

Sydney Olympic / Football NSW 

Ella TONKIN 

Defender 

Northern Tigers / Football SA 

Paige ZOIS 

Midfielder 

Bulleen Lions / Football Victoria