At long last, the Young Matildas returned to action in a 5-1 win over New Zealand on Wednesday – and with the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in August, an opportunity presents to members of the 28-player squad to gain tournament experience, and force their way into the thinking of senior Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
In the aftermath of a premature AFC Women’s Asian Cup exit, not much has changed for Tony Gustavsson and the Matildas as an almost identical squad prepares to face New Zealand in a pair of friendlies on April 8 and 12.
But the return of the Young Matildas after two and a half long years provides cause for optimism for the future, with the FIFA U20 World Cup in August an opportunity for some of the Liberty A-Leagues’ brightest young stars to prove their wares at tournament level to senior Matildas boss Tony Gustavsson.
The Young Matildas, led by head coach Leah Blayney, have convened for two fixtures against the Junior Football Ferns on April 6 and 10. They beat New Zealand 5-1 on Wednesday. It’s the first time the squad have assembled since the 2019 AFC U19 Women’s Championship.
Among the 28-player squad are 25 rising stars plucked from Liberty A-League clubs across the land – some of which have already featured for the senior Matildas squad under Gustavsson.
KEEPUP picks out 10 Liberty A-League stars from the Young Matildas squad who headline the campaign to catch Tony Gustavsson’s selection attention over the course of coming friendlies and the U20 World Cup in August.
CHARLIZE RULE
Club: Sydney FC – Age: 19 – Position: Full-back
2021/22 STATISTICS
- GAMES: 15
- GOALS: 3
- ASSISTS: 2
- STARTS: 12
- DUELS: 161
A standout performer for the Premiers this season, Charlize Rule was a defensive weapon and attacking menace bombing up and down the right flank for the Sky Blues.
JAMILLA RANKIN
Club: Bisbane Roar – Age: 18 – Position: Full-back
2021/22 STATISTICS
- GAMES: 14
- DUELS: 115
- RECOVERIES: 134
An 18-year-old defender continuing on from her superb debut lIberty A-League season in 2020/21 in another campaign used to garner experience defending in a struggling Roar outfit.
JESSIKA NASH
Club: Sydney FC – Age: 17 – Position: Centre-back
2021/22 STATISTICS
- GAMES: 11
- STARTS: 4
- CLEAN SHEETS: 2
- ASSIST: 1
Making the move from Canberra United to Sydney FC, the teenage central defender was one of three nominees for the league’s Young Player of the Year award last season, but traded consistency in minutes for an opportunity to learn and grow as part of the Sky Blues’ Premiership-winning side.
ALANA MURPHY
Club: Melbourne Victory – Age: 16 – Position: Central midfielder
2021/22 STATISTICS
- GAMES: 13
- STARTS: 8
- GOALS: 1
- ASSISTS: 1
The 16-year-old Melbourne Victory midfielder is showing her wares as one of the up-and-coming talents of her generation. Her debut campaign in the Liberty A-League ended with a Champions’ medal around her neck.
SOFIA SAKALIS
Club: Perth Glory – Age: 19 – Position: Attacking midfielder
2021/22 STATISTICS
- GAMES: 13
- STARTS: 9
- GOALS: 1
Sofia Sakalis flourished in a new environment this season, joining Perth Glory from Melbourne City and hitting the ground running under new boss Epakis. Sakalis was one of many young players recruited by Epakis from the eastern states to join his Glory project.
His impact on their development is reflected in the club’s quintet of players called up to the Young Matildas squad: Sakalis, Lowry, Abbey Green, Aideen Keane and Claudia Mihocic.
LETICIA MCKENNA
Club: Melbourne City – Age: 19 – Position: Central midfielder
2021/22 STATISTICS
- GAMES: 12
- GAMES STARTED: 5
- ASSISTS: 4
A move to Melbourne City from Brisbane Roar served to tremendously benefit Leticia McKenna’s development as she made up part of a midfield unit consisting of the likes of Rebekah Stott and Leah Davidson, feeding an attack consisting of bona fide Matildas star McNamara and New Zealand international Hannah Wilkinson.
Two of McKenna’s four assists for the season came in her last two appearances in the Finals Series as she ended the campaign with genuine momentum.
HANA LOWRY
Club: Perth Glory – Age: 18 – Position: Attacking midfielder
2021/22 STATISTICS
- GAMES: 13
- GOALS: 1
- ASSISTS: 1
- CHANCES CREATED: 17
One of the jewels of Australia’s emerging brigade of creative midfielders is Perth Glory star Hana Lowry.
The 18-year-old was down on her numbers in goals and assists this season, but her 13 appearances as part of a much-improved Glory side will have done her development a world of good – not to mention working under head coach Alex Epakis who got a tune out of each and every one of his young Glory talents in 2021/22.
SALLY JAMES
Club: Melbourne City – Age: 19 – Position: Goalkeeper
2021/22 STATISTICS
- GAMES: 4
- SHOTS AGAINST: 8
- SAVES: 5
- SAVE%: 62.5
A thumb injury on the cusp of the 2021/22 Liberty A-League season derailed the season for Sally James, who worked her back into the Melbourne City squad as backup to Melissa Barbieri.
The 19-year-old will have stiff competition on her hands to claim the number one role with the Young Matildas after the emergence of Canberra stopper Chloe Lincoln late in the season.
SARAH HUNTER
Club: Sydney FC – Age: 18 – Position: Central midfielder
2021/22 STATISTICS
- GAMES: 16
- STARTS: 9
- GOALS: 1
- DUELS: 120
A player with tremendous character and plenty of fight, Sarah Hunter burst onto the scene with a brace just three games into her Liberty A-League career at Western Sydney, before joining the Sky Blues for the 2021/22 campaign.
Like Nash, Hunter’s move to Ante Juric’s side meant plenty of opportunities came off the bench in 2021/22. But working in and around a squad of Sydney’s calibre will only serve to benefit Hunter’s game.
BRYLEEH HENRY
Club: Western Sydney Wanderers – Age: 18 – Position: Striker
2021/22 STATISTICS
- GAMES: 11
- STARTS: 9
- GOALS: 1
- ASSISTS: 1
After her senior Matildas debut in October came a disappointing season for Bryleeh Henry at the Wanderers. Henry’s solitary goal for the season came from the penalty spot for a Wanderers side dreadful in attack all season long, with seven goals scored collectively the worst in the league by some margin.
Henry will be sure to target her time with the Young Matildas to remind all those watching of her undeniable talent in the final third.
THIS WEEK’S FIXTURES
YOUNG MATILDAS
- Young Matildas v Junior Football Ferns
Wednesday, April 8 2022
Deakin Stadium, Canberra – Kick-off: 6.30pm AEST - Young Matildas v Junior Football Ferns
Sunday, April 10 2022
Viking Stadium, Canberra – Kick-off: 2.00pm AEST
THE MATILDAS
- Matildas v New Zealand
Friday, April 8 2022
QCB Stadium, Townsville – Kick-off: 7.45pm AEST - Matildas v New Zealand
Tuesday, April 12 2022
GIO Stadium, Canberra – Kick-off: 7.45pm AEST
YOUNG MATILDAS SQUAD
Supplied by Football Australia
| NAME | POSITION | CLUB / MEMBER FED |
| Naomi THOMAS-CHINNAMA | Defender | Melbourne City / Football Victoria |
| Kirsty FENTON | Defender | Newcastle Jets / NNSW Football |
| Gemma FERRIS | Defender | Football NSW |
| Daniela GALIC | Midfielder | Football NSW |
| Sheridan GALLAGHER | Defender | Western Sydney Wanderers / Football NSW |
| Abbey GREEN | Forward | Perth Glory / Football West |
| Bryleeh HENRY | Forward | Western Sydney Wanderers / Football NSW |
| Sarah HUNTER | Midfielder | Sydney FC / Football NSW |
| Emma ILIJOSKI | Defender | Canberra United / Capital Football |
| Sally JAMES | Goalkeeper | Melbourne City / Capital Football |
| Kahli JOHNSON | Midfielder | Sydney FC / Football NSW |
| Hannah JONES | Midfielder | Wellington Phoenix / Football NSW |
| Aideen KEANE | Midfielder | Perth Glory / Football NSW |
| Chloe LINCOLN | Goalkeeper | Canberra United / Capital Football |
| Hana LOWRY | Midfielder | Perth Glory / Football West |
| Darcey MALONE | Midfielder | Melbourne City / Football NSW |
| Leticia MCKENNA | Midfielder | Melbourne City / Football West |
| Claudia MIHOCIC | Defender | Perth Glory / Football Victoria |
| Alana MURPHY | Midfielder | Melbourne Victory / Football Victoria |
| Emilia MURRAY | Midfielder | Adelaide United / Football SA |
| Jessika NASH | Defender | Sydney FC / Football NSW |
| Leia PUXTY | Defender | Adamstown Rosebud FC / NNSW Football |
| Jamilla RANKIN | Defender | Brisbane Roar / NNSW Football |
| Charlize RULE | Defender | Sydney FC / Football NSW |
| Sofia SAKALIS | Defender | Perth Glory / Football Victoria |
| Hayley TAYLOR-YOUNG | Forward | Canberra United / Capital Football |
| Miranda TEMPLEMAN | Goalkeeper | Adelaide United / Football West |
| Ella TONKIN | Midfielder | Adelaide United / Football SA |
