By Kieran Yap 3/7/24
Above: Western United and Bulls FC Academy player Avaani Prakash will join the Young Matildas. Photo: Western United.
The Young Matildas will continue preparations for the U20 World Cup with a series of friendlies against New Zealand, and Leah Blayney will use those games to test out some new faces ahead of the tournament.
The 25 players squad features a number of players who finished third at the U20 Asian Cup, with Jessika Nash, Kahli Johnson and Sasha Grove returning. Naomi Chinnama and Alexia Apostolakis will likely form the central defensive pairing while Chloe Lincoln looks set to continue in goal.
However, in attack and midfield, there have been a series of changes and raise eyebrows and excitement levels at the same time.
South Australian gun forward Emilia Murray has returned to the squad after a long term injury. The Adelaide United attacker was instrumental in qualifying for the Asian Cup with her long, driving runs to set up goals, and as a former youth team captain her recovery could not have been timed better.
Murray will join Peta Trimis, and Lara Gooch in an attack with enviable pace and craft. With the guile of Indiana and Jynaya Dos Santos along with Milly Broughton and Maddy Caspers. The goalscoring and creative options are as deep as they are potentially entertaining.
Georgia Cassidy has retained her place in the squad after the Asian Cup. The Perth Glory midfielder offers versatility across the centre of the park. She will be joined by Shay Hollman from that tournament but some new promising midfield options will be given an opportunity to book a ticket to Colombia.
Melbourne Victory’s Rosie Curtis has thrived in the Victorian NPLW this season. The tall but quick central midfielder has both a vast passing range and a recently obvious eye for goal. Likewise, Avaani Prakash is a dynamic and skilful attacking midfielder who plays beyond her years. After making her A-League Debut in 2024 for Western United, she has lit up the NSW NPLW with Bulls FC Academy and during recent Talent Development Scheme matches.
Ella Buchanan, Emma Dundas, Alicia Woods and Tanaye Morris have also been included in the U20 side for the first time. The scouting for this camp has been nation wide, Leah Blayney is leaving no stone unturned to assemble a team to take on the world.
Interestingly, two of the last A-League season’s regular stars are absent. Alana Murphy was a frequent starter for Melbourne Victory and Daniela Galic was named Young Player of the Year for season 2023/24.
With both players starting most matches during Asian Cup qualifying and playing important roles during the tournament, it is unusual to not see their names on the team sheet. However, aside from the defence which is largely unchanged. Leah Blayney looks to be experimenting with midfield and attack to learn as much about every option ahead of the World Cup.
With Galic also on the verge of a move to an overseas club, this series of games offers an opportunity for others to break into the team, and there seems to be a real focus on pace and attacking potential in this squad.
A significant portion of this squad has been with us throughout this most current cycle. They have a demonstrated ability to perform on the international stage and are currently doing everything in their control to be selected for the upcoming Youth World Cup.
“Since the conclusion of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup, we have also been diligently identifying potential new players while bolstering the players in our Future Matildas programs domestically and abroad.
“Excitingly, we’ve been able to hold four Talent Development Scheme games nationwide, which assisted in spotting players with attributes that fit our playing style like Ella Buchanan, Rosie Curtis, Tanaye Morris and Alicia Woods.
“Each new player brings a different dimension to the existing squad providing technical diversity and individual qualities within the playing group.
“With two quality matches against Aotearoa New Zealand, our technical team is eager to witness greater fluency in our play as a unit.
“We’ll be looking to build on existing chemistry as well as further encourage our players to continue to play attacking positive entertain football. I want them to continue to play brave, positively and entertaining football.”
The first international against Aotearoa New Zealand on 11 July will be available live and free on Football Australia’s YouTube channel.
Australian Young Matildas squad:
Goalkeepers: Tahlia Franco, Chloe Lincoln,
Defenders: Alexia Apostolakis, Tegan Bertolissio, Ella Buchanan, Sasha Grove, Naomi Chinnama, Jessika Nash.
Midfielders: Maddy Caspers, Georgia Cassidy, Rosie Curtis, Indiana Dos Santos, Emma Dundas, Shay Hollman, Zara Kruger, Avaani Prakash, Alicia Woods.
Forwards: Milly Broughton, Jynaya Dos Santos, Lara Gooch, Milan Hammond, Kahli Johnson, Tanaye Morris, Emilia Murray, Peta Trimis.
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