CommBank Young Matildas head coach Alex Epakis has selected 22 of the Ninja A-League’s brightest young talents in a 23-player squad set to take on Korea Republic in a two-game friendly series on home soil.
The two fixtures will take place at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra on Friday, November 28 and Sunday, November 30 during the upcoming FIFA international window.
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The 22 Ninja A-League players selected come from nine of the 11 clubs in the competition, with former Melbourne City star Daniela Galic of Vittsjö GIK the only player selected from a team outside the Australian top-tier.
22 Ninja A-League players selected for Young Matildas duty:
Adelaide United: Ilona Melegh
Brisbane Roar: Zara Kruger, Grace Kuilamu
Canberra United: Tegan Bertolissio
Central Coast Mariners: Tiana Fuller, Avaani Prakash, Peta Trimis
Melbourne City: Alexia Apostolakis, Danella Butrus, Shelby McMahon
Melbourne Victory: Poppy O’Keefe
Newcastle Jets: Claire Adams, Josie Allan, India Breier, Emma Dundas
Sydney FC: Madeleine Caspers, Amelia Cassar, Sofia Fante, Skye Halmarick, Rubi Sullivan
Western Sydney Wanderers: Allyssa Ng Saad, Talia Younis
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Epakis’ 23-player squad features two capped senior Matildas: Melbourne City’s Alexia Apostolakis and Brisbane Roar forward Grace Kuilamu.
The Young Matildas head coach says the upcoming camp is an important milestone on the road to the AFC Under-20 Women’s Asian Cup to be hosted in Thailand next year.
“These matches against Korea Republic are a key step as we move towards our final preparations,” he said.
“We’ve selected a squad that reflects the depth and versatility we’ve been building over the past year, and these matches will give us a valuable opportunity to test our structures, assess new player combinations, and recreate the intensity of tournament football.
“We have an exciting group and I am looking forward to connecting with the players and working with them across the week in camp.
“It’s also a chance for the players to embrace the challenge of international competition and demonstrate the resilience and adaptability we’ll need in Thailand.
“Being able to train and compete in a focused, high-performance environment is essential, and we’re excited to see how the group responds to this opportunity.”
Young Matildas squad for Korea Republic series
| NAME | POSITION | CLUB/MEMBER FEDERATION | |
| Claire | ADAMS | Midfielder | Newcastle Jets FC/NNSW Football |
| Josie | ALLAN | Forward | Newcastle Jets FC /NNSW Football |
| Alexia | APOSTOLAKIS | Defender | Melbourne City FC/ Football NSW |
| Tegan | BERTOLISSIO | Defender | Canberra United FC/Football NSW |
| India | BREIER | Defender | Newcastle Jets FC / Football NSW |
| Danella | BUTRUS | Forward | Melbourne City FC/ Football VIC |
| Madeleine | CASPERS | Midfielder | Sydney FC /Football NSW |
| Amelia | CASSAR | Forward | Sydney FC /Football NSW |
| Emma | DUNDAS | Midfielder | Newcastle Jets FC /NNSW Football |
| Sofia | FANTE | Goalkeeper | Sydney FC /Football NSW |
| Tiana | FULLER | Forward | Central Coast Mariners FC |
| Daniela | GALIC | Midfielder | Vittsjo GIK /Football NSW |
| Skye | HALMARICK | Forward | Sydney FC /Football NSW |
| Zara | KRUGER | Midfielder | Brisbane Roar FC/ Football QLD |
| Grace | KUILAMU | Forward | Brisbane Roar FC/ Football QLD |
| Shelby | MCMAHON | Midfielder | Melbourne City FC Football QLD |
| Ilona | MELEGH | Goalkeeper | Adelaide United FC/ Football SA |
| Allyssa | NG SAAD | Forward | Western Sydney Wanderers FC/ Football NSW |
| Poppy | O’KEEFE | Midfielder | Melbourne Victory FC/ Football VIC |
| Avaani | PRAKASH | Midfielder | Central Coast Mariners FC /Football NSW |
| Rubi | SULLIVAN | Defender | Sydney FC /Football NSW |
| Peta | TRIMIS | Forward | Central Coast Mariners FC /Football NSW |
| Talia | YOUNIS | Forward | Western Sydney Wanderers FC /Football NSW |
