CommBank Junior Matildas bound for Brisbane in preparation for AFF U18 Championships

Head coach Rae Dower’s extensive search for the next generation of women’s footballers will continue next week when the CommBank Junior Matildas head to Brisbane for their most recent training camp.

The camp has been called following confirmation that Australia will participate in the upcoming AFF U18 Champions in Indonesia from 22 July to 4 August 2022.

It will be the CommBank Junior Matildas’ first international activity since their involvement in the 2019 AFC U-16 Women's Championship where they finished fourth in the tournament three years ago. It also marks the final Australian Women’s National Team to re-commence international action.

Dower has called in a 28-player squad that includes several names familiar to the program over the last three months. In addition, four more players have been provided with an opening to display their talents in the national team environment.

With Queensland a longstanding breeding ground for women’s football talent, Dower is anticipating another competitive five days in Brisbane.

“We're very excited to continue the development with this playing group who have worked hard back in their respective club teams to be in good physical shape,” Dower said.

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

“This allows us to work at a high intensity to help prepare the players for the rigours of international competition in a congested tournament. A lot of credit needs to go to the States and their staff at the respective programs who have done a magnificent job preparing the players.”

“There's been some very trying circumstances with so much rain and rescheduling of games across the country, so kudos to the Member Federation staff. The level of collaboration with the pathway programs across the country is very good and we are seeing a positive impact on the players and their ongoing development.”

The recent camp call-ups see the number of players from the CommBank Junior Matildas age group involved in national team activity to 64, with 56 attending U17 assemblies and another eight progressing to the CommBank Young Matildas level.

“This upcoming camp in Brisbane gives the players another opportunity to push for final selection for the AFF U18 team and the upcoming tour to Indonesia,” she continued.

“Pleasingly, there are so many outstanding young players in the player pool making it a very difficult decision for the coaching staff and I to arrive at the final selection.

“With the exciting news of the National Youth Championships returning in 2022, it will give all these aspiring players another opportunity to test themselves against the best in the country and push their careers forward.”

COMMBANK JUNIOR MATILDAS SQUAD | TRAINING CAMP | 21 JUNE – 1 JULY 2022 

Name 

Position 

Club / Member Federation 

Ella ABDUL MASSIH 

Defender 

NSW Institute / Football NSW 

Isabella ACCARDO 

Defender 

Football Victoria NTC / Football Victoria 

Josie ALLAN 

Forward 

Newcastle Jets / Northern NSW Football 

Tegan BERTOLISSIO 

Defender 

NSW Institute / Football NSW 

Jasmine BLACK 

Goalkeeper 

NSW Institute / Football NSW 

India BREIER 

Forward 

NSW Institute / Football NSW 

Ava BRIEDIS 

Midfielder 

Football Victoria NTC / Football Victoria 

Daisy BROWN 

Forward 

Football Queensland-QAS / Football Queensland 

Alana CORTELLINO 

Forward 

Football Victoria NTC / Football Victoria 

Leah DE OLIVEIRA 

Forward 

NSW Institute / Football NSW 

Jonti FISHER 

Midfielder 

Football Queensland-QAS / Football Queensland 

Tahlia FRANCO 

Goalkeeper 

NSW Institute / Football NSW 

Charlie GIBSON 

Defender 

Football Queensland-QAS / Football Queensland 

Aimee HALL 

Goalkeeper 

NSW Institute / Football NSW 

Shay HOLLMAN 

Midfielder 

NSW Institute / Football NSW 

Caitlin KARIC 

Forward 

Football Victoria NTC / Football Victoria 

Zoe KARIPIDIS 

Defender 

Newcastle Jets / Northern NSW Football 

Maya LOBO 

Midfielder 

NSW Institute / Football NSW 

Megan MIFSUD 

Defender 

NSW Institute / Football NSW 

Silver Bell MORRIS 

Defender 

Football Victoria NTC / Football Victoria 

Ella O'GRADY 

Forward 

Football Queensland-QAS / Football Queensland 

Avaani PRAKASH 

Midfielder 

NSW Institute / Football NSW 

Sienna SAVESKA 

Forward 

NSW Institute / Football NSW 

Mary STANIC-FLOODY 

Midfielder 

NSW Institute / Football NSW 

Peta TRIMIS 

Forward 

NSW Institute / Football NSW 

Chloe WALANDOUW 

Defender 

Newcastle Jets / Northern NSW Football 

Grace WILSON 

Goalkeeper 

SA NTC / Football South Australia 

Adelaide WYRZYNSKI 

Forward 

NSW Institute / Football NSW