By Kieran Yap 7/11/23
Above: Kahli Johnson (Right) after scoring for Western United in the A-League Women’s. Photo: Western United.
Kerr, Foord and Raso will thankfully be with us for a while, but there are numerous attackers being prepared by the youth setup to step in when the time arises.
There are few faults to be found with The Matildas most recent performances, and no obvious weaknesses in the team, but as it was before the World Cup, the search for more strikers continue.
Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord will almost certainly be part of the next Australian World Cup squad, and Amy Sayer is on the path to be the next big thing, but the preparations for the home tournament were spent searching for more options at centre forward, and the opening match against Iran showed that a more 18 yard box specialists are still needed.
It is yet not time to look for the “next Sam Kerr.” But only three of the 13 goals were scored with her on the bench and none without either Kerr or Foord on the pitch. Matildas spots are hard to earn, but if there is any space to break in, it is as an alternate number nine.
This is not a list of “Olympic Bolters.” It will be an 18 player squad and good players will already miss out. Amy Sayer and Mary Fowler can play in the position, but are far more dangerous in freer roles.
Succession planning has so far been excellent for Australia, as Clare Hunt, Clare Wheeler and Kyra Cooney-Cross have been able to replace the previously irreplaceable, and in attack players are being prepared for the Matildas when the time comes.
Kahli Johnson– Young Matildas, Australian Under 23’s
The Western United striker has developed dramatically over the past two years. She started the first two group games for Australia at the Under 20 World Cup in Costa Rica, and was one of the first signings announced for Western’s debut season.
Her performances in the A-League Women steadily improved through the season, and her tactical versatility was utilized as Western surged to a second place finish. Johnson’s performances escaped wide public acknowledgement in the shadow of World Cup winner Jess McDonald and Golden Boot winner Hannah Keane, but she clearly learned a lot in addition to scoring some sensational goals.
Johnson’s crowning moment as a forward to watch was the first semi final against Sydney FC. She took responsibility in attack and stood out with a match winning assist for Keane along with a sparkling and combative display up front.
Johnson’s progress has carried over into Young Matildas games. She is a near fixture in attack for The Under 20 and Under 23 sides and scores with regularity. Like Foord, Kerr and Mary Fowler, Johnson can be deployed anywhere in a front three to equal effect and is increasingly showcasing her ability to turn matches.
She has a powerful shot, good dribbling ability, impressive pace and a willingness to win the ball back. Kahli Johnson is on the road to a senior international call up.
Bryleeh Henry– Young Matildas, Australian Under 23’s, Senior Matildas
The Melbourne City forward made her senior Matildas debut at 18, and did not look overawed against Brazil in a 2021 friendly. She scored in front of 30,000 opposition fans at the Under 20 World Cup and backed that up with more strong performances in Costa Rica, and was included in the last Under 23 camp against Scotland where she is said to have impressed coaches in her favoured strikers role.
Her move to Melbourne City brought immediate goals, three in the first two games. But a shift out wide has meant that the prodigious goal scorer has learned new tools for her trade.
At her best, Henry is a brilliant penalty box predator. Her goals generally come from close range after well timed runs from deep or reacting quickest to half chances. Her pace has seen Dario Vidosic prefer her as winger, but she has the talent to play in any attacking position.
Like Johnson, Henry is a player willing to fight for possession and is adept at a hard pressing game plan. In the absence of Sam Kerr in the recent window, what Australia missed was an instinctive, mobile player who exploits space in the final third.
Her role at City has not really allowed the A-League Women public to see it as often, but her performances for Australia’s youth sides have shown that the national team setup see her as a long term option for the national team.
At just 20 years of age, Henry is very much in contention to be a Matildas option in the near future.
Charlize Rule– Junior Matildas, Young Matildas, Australian Under 23’s, Senior Matildas Train-On
Hear me out. Rule is best known as a defender at Sydney FC and and Brighton and Hove Albion, but began her career as a forward and has trained with the senior national team as a striker. She is one of the most promising up and coming Australians, and can frankly, do almost any job on a football pitch.
Rule was called up to Matildas camps in 2021 against The USA where she was listed as a forward, and started Australia’s final group game in the Under 20 World Cup as the spearhead.
She might have been used deeper in her club career, but Rule is still seen as a potential striker, and was once again called up as a train-on player for the Olympic Qualifiers.
She is fast, has an excellent first touch, and can be deadly in the air. Rule is one of Australia’s most versatile young footballers and has excelled in numerous roles through her career.
Ellie Carpenter and Charli Grant look to be fixtures at right back for the next decade, but Rule remains very much part of the national team setup and in contention for more senior call ups in future.
Do not rule out Charlie for a return to the striker’s role.
Holly McNamara: Senior Matildas
If not for an ACL injury in 2022, Holly McNamara could have easily been in the 2023 World Cup Squad. She scored on her A-League Women debut for Melbourne City in 2021 with a ridiculous curling effort from the edge of the box, and was the creative force behind Hannah Wilkinson’s goal scoring exploits.
McNamara was called up to the 2022 Asian Cup squad and made her senior Matildas debut in the 18-0 win over Indonesia, she looked sharp and came close to scoring, but her effort hit the post after a trademark run through the middle.
Soon after returning to Australia, tragedy struck and she succumbed to a third ACL injury in four years. She returned from that to hit instant form with City at the tail end of the 2022/23 A-League Women season, where a final round display against Canberra United underlined her talent for the few left unaware.
She is unique. A fast, unpredictable dribbler with footwork and passing that recalls Lisa De Vanna and who’s ability to run from deep with the ball is equal to any in the Australian game.
McNamara is a dynamic, inventive striker who is consistently capable of the unexpected. A composed finisher, brave dribbler and inventive passer. She has the full package for an attacking player and needs only luck and fitness to break through into the senior Matildas again.
Alana Jancevski (Junior Matildas, Future Matildas program) , Emilia Murray (Young Matildas, Australian Under 23’s), Ella O’Grady (Young Matildas)
All three of these attackers are on the radar of the national team selectors, but up until the end of 2022/23 they were not regular starters at club level. Jancevski has missed out on recent Youth Team selections, but is part of Adelaide United’s first choice 11.
Her impressive displays for previous club Perth Glory and dominant season in the NPLW Victoria with Bulleen Lions has earned her a place in the Future Matildas program. She is a dynamic, composed and inventive striker who always wants the ball when the game is on the line.
Her shooting power, pinpoint passing and confidence from a dead ball make her a likely star of the A-League Women, and if she can become a consistent goal scorer Jancevski could find herself with a senior cap by 2027.
Emilia Murray has captained the Under 20 side, and although is mostly used as a winger, has shown an eye for goal. She currently dominates for the Young Matildas with her direct running and calm decision making in the final third. Murray usually starts on the bench for Adelaide United, but the talent is obvious and if she continues to progress as she has, could one day replace any number of current Matildas stars.
Ella O’Grady has only just begun her career, but as a pure finisher, she is one of the most promising prospects on this list. The 17 year old is yet to fully establish herself as a senior A-League player, but has scored one goal for Melbourne Victory in her two appearances so far.
O’Grady is realistically a few years away from being in the mix for a Matildas spot, but is progressing through the youth ranks at Football Australia, and does not look out of place when she takes the field against senior A-League players.
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