Canberra beckons for CommBank Junior Matildas March training camp

The CommBank Junior Matildas are headed to the nation’s capital next week as a 28-player squad assembles for the March training camp ahead of next month’s AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup Indonesia 2024™ Qualifying Round 1. 

Held at the Australian Institute of Sport, the five-day training camp will run from 20 – 24 March as head coach Rae Dower builds towards the final selection for the qualifiers. 

“With over 50 players coming in for their chance to impress in their first national team assemblies, we've been able to explore the rich depth of talent across the country,” Dower said. 

“However, it's now time to narrow our focus as we head towards the Round 1 Qualifiers in Mongolia in April, and we welcome the opportunity to get straight back into our third camp of 2023 at the AIS in Canberra.” 

Since the last Sydney camp Dower and her technical team have spent the time scouting across the nation.  This month saw the commencement of the Elite Matches series with Victoria hosting the first match a fortnight ago. 

The Elite Matches are an opportunity for the national team coaches to observe known players and conduct further talent identification with the wider player group while allowing players to be in their own home environments. 

CommBank Junior Matildas head coach Rae Dower in camp. (Photo: Ann Odong / Football Australia)
CommBank Junior Matildas head coach Rae Dower in camp. (Photo: Ann Odong / Football Australia)

“The next matches are currently being scheduled and so the message is clear if you are a young talented footballer born 2007/2008 playing anywhere across the country, we are coming to scout you,” Dower encouraged. 

“With our eyes set firmly on Mongolia, we're looking to select a balanced side that gives us the best opportunity to confidently express ourselves with the exciting, creative players that we have in the squad.

The CommBank Junior Matildas during a training camp in Western Sydney. (Photo: Ann Odong / Football Australia)
The CommBank Junior Matildas during a training camp in Western Sydney. (Photo: Ann Odong / Football Australia)

“In addition, we have some robust and resolute defenders with an excellent passing range to unlock that creativity, so it now comes down to who we believe will give us the best opportunity of success in Mongolia,” she concluded. 

Football Australia acknowledges the Australian Sports Commission in supporting the high-performance pillar of our Legacy ’23 Plan, designed to provide pathways to build competitive depth in the Women’s National Team Program. 

COMMBANK JUNIOR MATILDAS SQUAD | CANBERRA TRAINING CAMP | 20 – 24 MAR 2023

Name Position Member Federation

Ischia BROOKING

Midfielder

Football West

Ruby CUTHBERT

Defender

Football West

Sienna DALE

Forward

Football NSW

Indiana DOS SANTOS

Forward

Football NSW

Sofia FANTE

Goalkeeper

Football NSW

Tiana FULLER

Midfielder

Football NSW

Mia GOLDING

Defender

Football NSW

Georgia GROIDIS

Forward

Football Victoria

Isabela HOYOS

Defender

Football Queensland

Alvina KHOSHABA

Defender

Football NSW

Christina KICEEC

Defender

Football NSW

Eva KOKOTIS

Midfielder

Football Victoria

Rosie MCMAHON

Midfielder

Football Queensland

Shelby MCMAHON

Midfielder

Football Queensland

Kiera MEYERS

Midfielder

Football Victoria

Jade O'BRIEN

Defender

Football Northern NSW

Poppy O'KEEFFE

Midfielder

Football Victoria

Chloe PARKER

Defender

Football Queensland

Georgia RITCHIE

Goalkeeper

Capital Football

Carina ROSSI

Midfielder

Football Victoria

Lilly SIMPSON

Forward

Football Queensland

Lillian SKELLY

Forward

Football NSW

Jessica SKINNER

Goalkeeper

Football West

Amelia TARTAGLIA

Defender

Football Victoria

Mia TRIMBOLI

Goalkeeper

Football South Australia

Clancy WESTAWAY

Midfielder

Football Victoria

Shayla WILLIAMS

Forward

Football Queensland

Talia YOUNIS

Forward

  Football NSW

 

COMMBANK JUNIOR MATILDAS | AFC U17 WOMEN’S ASIAN CUP INDONESIA 2024™ QUALIFYING ROUND 1

CommBank Junior Matildas v Bhutan
Date: 24 April 2023
Venue: MFF Football Centre, Ulaanbaatar
Kick Off: TBC

Mongolia v CommBank Junior Matildas
Date: 26 April 2023
Venue: MFF Football Centre, Ulaanbaatar
Kick Off: TBC

CommBank Junior Matildas v Chinese Taipei
Date: 28 April 2023
Venue: MFF Football Centre, Ulaanbaatar
Kick Off: TBC