Expectations are high as the Matildas bid to add to their 2010 Women’s Asian Cup with a triumph at this year’s event in India.
Tony Gustavsson’s Australia squad is made up of a host of European-based stars and emerging talent.
But there is one common theme among the 23 players – all of them have been made in the A-Leagues.
As the Matildas prepare to kick-off their campaign against Indonesia on Friday, KEEPUP takes a look at the squad and the influence of the Liberty A-League.
Mackenzie Arnold (West Ham)
Perth Glory gave Arnold her A-Leagues debut in 2011 before stints with Canberra United, Western Sydney Wanderers and Brisbane Roar, sandwiched in between a second spell in WA. The 26-time international has since taken her talents abroad via Norway’s Arna-Bjornar and NWSL outfit Chicago Red Stars before landing in the UK with West Ham in 2020. Arnold has made 36 saves in the Women’s Super League this season, the second most by any goalkeeper in 2021-22.
Ellie Carpenter (Lyon)
Carpenter now struts her stuff for a European powerhouse. Before being prised to France in 2020, the defensive star plied her trade with the Wanderers between 2015 and 2017. A two-year period in Canberra followed prior to moving to Portland Thorns, where she became the youngest player to appear in an NWSL game in league history aged 18, in 2018. She has added Coupe de France and Champions League honours to her collection, having swept Liberty A-League Premiership and Championship silverware during a loan stint with Melbourne City in 2019-20.
Steph Catley (Arsenal)
For five years, Catley called Melbourne Victory home. She celebrated championship glory in 2013-14 as she bowed out in winning fashion ahead of a switch to NWSL’s Portland. A return to Victory, albeit on loan, eventuated in 2014-15 before crossing the divide to City on numerous loan agreements from 2015 to 2020 – in that time she claimed another four titles. Since then, the Australia mainstay has experienced life with Orlando Pride and Reign FC, and a reunion with former boss Joe Montemurro at Arsenal.
Kyra Cooney-Cross (Melbourne Victory)
With ability to slot into any position Cooney-Cross has quickly made herself a key part of Australia’s line-up as she continues to shine in the A-Leagues. Her first pro contract was with Victory in 2017-18 and after a campaign at the Wanderers, she is back wreaking havoc for the Big V, where she is best known for scoring directly from a corner kick in the 120th minute of extra time in the 2021 Grand Final.
Caitlin Foord (Arsenal)
A product of the NSWIS, the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup Best Young Player enjoyed three spells with Sydney FC, winning two championships and a Premiership in that time. A two-year partnership with Perth also yielded a title as the 88-cap veteran – who has also played in the US and Japan – now showcases her exploits in the UK.
Mary Fowler (Montpellier)
The face of the next generation, the highly-rated teenager offered a glimpse of her immense quality in a brief stay with Adelaide, where she scored on debut, before being snapped up by Montpellier two years ago.
Emily Gielnik (Aston Villa)
Known as a “super sub” in Brisbane, Gielnik played eight seasons with the Roar, where she scored 30 goals and won the 2010-11 Championship and Premiership in 2012-13 and 2017-18. The 29-year-old forward, who has also played for English duo Liverpool and Aston Villa, Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds, German giants Bayern Munich, Swedish outfit Vittsjo GIK, enjoyed a second coming in Brisbane last season, having also spent time with Victory.
Charlotte Grant (Rosengard)
Playing for hometown club Adelaide laid the groundwork for the emerging Matilda, who is now based abroad in Sweden, where she is among Rosengard’s defenders.
Alanna Kennedy (Manchester City)
The popular Australia international, who is closing in on a century of caps, has featured for five A-League Women teams over the course of her career – Sydney (four spells), Newcastle, Wanderers, Glory and City. Able to play in defence of midfield, Kennedy is located in the UK with Manchester City after previous journeys abroad.
Sam Kerr (Chelsea)
The second-best player in women’s football after the FIFA Best awards, Kerr has gone from strength to strength since her A-Leagues days. A winner of six trophies at Chelsea, Matildas captain Kerr – the first marquee player in the competition in 2018 – lit up the Liberty A-League during her time with Perth and Sydney. In her second spell at the Glory, Australia’s all-time leading goalscorer Kerr netted 52 league goals in 49 games as Perth won the Premiership and reached three Grand Finals. Kerr has scored six big scoring chances (A situation where a player should reasonably be expected to score, usually in a one on one scenario or from very close range when the ball has a clear path to goal and there is low to moderate pressure on the shooter. Penalties are always considered big chances). in the 2021-22 WSL, the most by any player. Meanwhile, Kerr (48.5 minutes – 9 goals, 3 assists) and Raso (48.3 minutes – 3 goals, 3 assists) have been directly involved in goals more frequently than any other players in the league this season.
Aivi Luik (Pomigliano)
Back out of retirement for the campaign in India, the 36-year-old’s career has taken her many places outside of Australia. However, Luik is a Championship winner with both the Roar (2010-11) and City (2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2019-20). A member of the triumphant 2010 Asian Cup team, Luik also played for Perth, though she now plays for Italian side Pomigliano, having moved around at the likes of Brondby, Notts County and Sevilla.
Holly McNamara (Melbourne City)
The teenager is set to make her international debut as Australia eye tournament success. McNamara’s career is still in its infancy, but the 18-year-old has made an impact in her first five games for City in the A-League Women. McNamara has provided 3 assists this season, 2.5 more than her Expected Assists (xA measures the likelihood that a completed pass will become a goal assist. It considers several factors including the type of pass and end-point and length of pass. Adding up a player or team’s expected assists gives us an indication of how many assists a player of team should have had based on their build up and attacking play) value suggest – the second best overperformance by any player in this category.
Teagan Micah (Rosengard)
The goalkeeper is teammates with Grant at Rosengard. Before swapping Sandviken for Rosengard last year, Micah played eight games for City in her native state. The 24-year-old was also on the books of the Roar, Wanderers and Victory at the start of her career in Australia.
Courtney Nevin (Melbourne Victory)
Heralded as one of the country’s best young talents, the 19-year-old full-back announced herself with hometown club the Wanderers between 2018 and 2021. After high praise and three seasons, Nevin is now in the Victory setup as she takes her talents to the international stage.
Clare Polkinghorne (Vittsjo GIK)
The third-most capped player in Matildas history, Polkinghorne is a name synonymous with the Roar. While she has played in Japan, the US, Norway and Sweden, there has only ever been one club for the 32-year-old back home. Polkinghorne has solely represented the Roar in the A-Leagues, from 2008 to 2021, winning two Championships and two Premierships, while becoming the first player to play 100 club games in the competitions in 2017.
Hayley Raso (Manchester City)
Now scoring goals for City in the WSL, Raso began her senior career with Canberra in 2011, and was part of the team that reigned supreme in 2011-12. Life in Australia has seen her don the colours of the Roar and Victory, while the UK has been home for the 27-year-old in recent seasons.
Remy Siemsen (Sydney FC)
The Liberty A-Leagues Young Footballer of the Year in 2016, Siemsen has spent most of her career on home soil. Aside from a short spell in California, the 22-year-old has dazzled locally with Sydney and Western Sydney. Siemsen, who made her A-Leagues debut via Sydney in 2016, is now back with the Sky Blues, where she caught the eye of Gustavsson.
Kyah Simon (Tottenham)
Part of Australia’s century club and a previous Asian Cup winner, Kyah has taken her talents, firstly to Central Coast Mariners in 2008 and then Sydney, Western Sydney and City. The first indigenous Australian to score at a Women’s World Cup in 2011, is enjoying life in Europe, where a transfer to Tottenham came to the fore after impressing in Eindhoven with PSV.
Emily van Egmond (Newcastle Jets)
After signing a short-term contract with hometown outfit Newcastle, Matildas veteran Van Egmond is set to join incoming NWSL franchise San Diego Wave. In a storied career which has taken the midfielder to the US, Germany and the UK, it all started with the Jets in the A-Leagues. There have been five different stints in the Hunter Valley, while Canberra and the Wanderers witnessed her quality firsthand in the competition.
Cortnee Vine (Sydney FC)
Another first-timer in the Australia squad, the 23-year-old brings a wealth of A-Leagues and attacking prowess to the title-chasing Matildas. Vine, who made her debut as a 16-year-old for Brisbane in 2015, has gone from Brisbane to Newcastle and Western Sydney, and now Sydney. Her exceptional ALW form has seen her rewarded with a maiden international call-up. Vine has made more carries ending in a shot (10), goal (4), chance created (5) or assist (2) than other player in the A-League Women this term.
Clare Wheeler (Fortuna Hjorring)
Denmark is where it’s at for Wheeler, who left Australia in June last year to link up with Danish champions Fortuna Hjorring. Wheeler’s time in the A-Leagues was largely based in Newcastle, where the 24-year-old midfielder made a name for herself before swapping the Hunter for the Sky Blues.
Lydia Williams (Arsenal)
An Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Famer, Williams has been an ever-present between the sticks for Australia. Brought to Arsenal by former Gunners boss Montemurro in 2020, the 33-year-old and 2010 Asian Cup champion stood out in the A-Leagues with Canberra – on three different occasions – and a dominant City team. Twice the PFA Women’s Footballer of the Year and a three-time ALW Goalkeeper of the Year, she also has a Championship on her CV.
Tameka Yallop (West Ham)
Another Matilda based at West Ham, all of Yallop’s silverware have come in Brisbane with the Roar. A pair of Championships and three Premiership titles showcase her impact on the club, while she also spent some time with City in the competition.
