Flying the flag for Matildas based in the Ninja A-League sits well with Brisbane Roar goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln.
The 21-year-old shot-stopper is one of the few domestic players in contention for a Matildas spot at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup following the departure of a host of candidates.
In the most recent Matildas camp, only Lincoln and Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Courtney Newbon were called up from Ninja A-League clubs.
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It follows the exits of Alexia Apostolakis (Melbourne City to Bristol City), Tori Tumeth (Sydney FC to Vancouver Rise), Leah Davidson (Melbourne City to Charlton Athletic), Hana Lowry (Sydney FC to Valerenga), Leticia McKenna (Melbourne City to Nottingham Forest) and Holly McNamara (Melbourne City to Everton) since the conclusion of the 2025-26 Ninja A-League season.
With capped Matildas Isabel Gomez and Bryleeh Henry also leaving Australia, it leaves Lincoln in a small contingent based in the A-Leagues, not discounting any players who may have a break-out season.
“As exciting as it is for those girls going overseas and expanding their football journey, I think it’s really special that the talent was born and bred here in the A-League,” Lincoln said.
“It goes to show that there is a lot of talent here.
“I do have aspirations to go overseas. I don’t know when that will be or what that will look like, but I think it would be a good experience.
“But hopefully we can keep building the A-League’s competition so that that doesn’t really have to be the case moving forward.”
Preparing for a second season at the Brisbane Roar, Lincoln was comfortable enough to describe the city as ‘home’.
Having grown up in Armidale, a country town roughly half way between Sydney and Brisbane in the Northern Tablelands of NSW, Lincoln has already been much travelled in her young career.
A brief time in Sydney playing NPL NSW was followed by her breakthrough Ninja A-League opportunity at Canberra United, a season at Western United in 2024-25, and then Brisbane Roar last campaign.
Add in regular call-ups to youth national teams and since 2024, the senior Matildas, and there’s been little time to settle.
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“I guess Brisbane is pretty much my second home now,” Lincoln said.
“I love it up there. I think it’s a great place to live and a great city and a great club.
“You do feel like you’re living out [of] a suitcase sometimes with all the travel, but it’s all part of it all, part of the fun.
“It’s nice to come fly back into Brisbane, I love it.”
The Roar have undergone a changing of the guard under new coach Johno Clemente, with veteran Tameka Yallop the highest profile departure along with midfielders Momo Hayashi and Tish Woods, attacker Bente Jansen and defenders Aimee Medwin and Angie Beard the most notable among a dozen outs.
But Lincoln has noticed some good cultural signs in the Roar’s recruiting.
“What Johno has done really well is recruit experience,” Lincoln said.
“We have three former captains of [A-League] teams Nat Tathem, Izzy Hodgson and Annabel Martin.
“So in terms of leadership he’s recruited really well in that space.
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“It’s quite a vocal team. I think everyone feels comfortable to speak up, about how they’re feeling and what they can sort of think will help contribute to the same success.
“There’s a lot of leaders within the group, but I think those three in particular have been really positive voices in the in the group and great new additions to the team.
“In pre-season, the culture has been phenomenal.
Roar finished the 2025-26 season on a run of sell-outs at home ground Spencer Park, only bowing out of finals after an extra-time defeat to Wellington Phoenix in the semi-final second leg.
“We can’t wait,” Lincoln said of season kick-off.
“We’re so appreciative to all the fans who showed up. And, yeah, it’s just brought so much support.
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“It really made a difference for us. I think you could tell when we were playing at home, we just had that extra bit of fire in our belly to really get the result.
“Not just for us as a group, but for the collective Brisbane Roar fanbase and club.”
Brisbane Roar kick off their 2026/27 Ninja A-League campaign with a home clash against Central Coast Mariners at Gioca Stadium on Saturday, October 17.
