By Emma Burke 15/11/24
Above: Matilda McNamara rejoins the national team. Photo: Football Australia
The Matildas’s final squad for 2024 has been announced by interim Head Coach Tom Sermanni at AAMI Park this morning, featuring seven uncapped players, and eight players with 10 caps or less.
The squad boasts 36 names, a mixture of players based both locally in the A-league, and across the globe.
“There’ll be certain players who won’t be able to be here for the whole window,” said Sermanni, regarding the size of the squad.
“We had a big list of players… it was touch and go between the players we picked and the ones who missed out,” he said.
New names include Morgan Aquino (DC Power), Leah Davidson (Melbourne City), Isabel Gomez (Central Coast Mariners), Hana Lowry (Sydney FC), and Natasha Prior (Newcastle Jets FC).
This squad also sees Tottenham attacker Hayley Raso, and Liverpool goalkeeper Teagan Micah both return from hamstring and ankle injuries respectively.
Experienced Matildas and fan favourites in Alex Chidiac, Chloe Logarzo, and Emily Gielnik all return to the national team fold, due to their impressive starts to the 2024/25 A-League Women’s season.
Australia will face familiar foes Brazil in Brisbane on the 28th of November, a celebration match for defender Clare Polkinghorne, who will be making her last appearances for the Matildas in this window of games.
The Brisbane game will be followed by a rematch on the 1st of December, down on the Gold Coast.
The squad will then head down to Victoria to play two games against Chinese Taipei one at AAMI Park on the 4th of December, and then their final fixture on the 7th of December in Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.
Regarding the Head Coach position, Sermanni was clear about his tenure in the role while the FA look to fill the position full-time.
“I’m here as the interim coach for as long as the FA wants me to be here,” he said.
“There is no time limit, I’ll be here for as long as I am required.”
“You may have to put up with me for a while yet.”
Matildas Squad
Morgan Aquino
Mackenzie Arnold
Ellie Carpenter
Steph Catley
Alex Chidiac
Kyra Cooney-Cross
Leah Davidson
Caitlin Foord
Mary Fowler
Sharn Freier
Daniela Galic
Emily Gielnik
Isabel Gomez
Katrina Gorry
Charlotte Grant
Winonah Heatley
Bryleeh Henry
Michelle Heyman
Clare Hunt
Alanna Kennedy
Chloe Lincoln
Chloe Logarzo
Hana Lowry
Matilda McNamara
Teagan Micah
Jessika Nash
Courtney Nevin
Clare Polkinghorne
Natasha Prior
Hayley Raso
Jamilla Rankin
Karly Roestbakken
Remy Siemsen
Emily Van Egmond
Clare Wheeler
Tameka Yallop
impetusfootball.org 