By Kieran Yap 10/2/25
Above: Wanderers and former Junior Matildas star Sienna Saveska has been named in the Young Matildas team. Photo: Football Australia
The Young Matildas squad for the upcoming Four Nations Tournamament in Canberra has been named. Interim U20 coach Kory Babington has named 26 players to host The Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Thailand and although this is the start of a new cycle for the program it is stacked with A-League Women and International experience.
Josie Allan, Tegan Bertolissio, Maya Lobo, Avaani Prakash, Sienna Saveska and Mary Stanic-Floody all bring with them trophy winning experience after lifting the U18 AFF Championship as Junior Matildas in 2022.
Peta Trimis, Indiana dos Santos, Alexia Apostolakis and Madeline Caspers featured in the U20 Women’s World Cup last year where they were joined by Prakash and Bertolissio in the squad.
The first impression of this squad is that it has goals in it, and the attention is clearly to play attacking football.
Saveska is in the A-League Women Golden Boot race with seven goals so far for Western Sydney Wanderers. Apostolakis has two from full back for Melbourne City, Claire Adams scored a vital goal for The Newcastle Jets and Tianna Fuller has burst onto the scene with four with Central Coast Mariners.
Indiana dos Santos has been a shining light in a tough season for Sydney FC, Peta Trimis has only enhanced her reputation since scoring three goals at the U20 Asian Cup for Australia in 2024.
Mary Stanic-Floody has been playing the best football of her career and has starred for Canberra United in a creative role. The hero of the AFF Championship Final has delivered on that early potential this season with two goal of the season contenders in the A-League Women.
Josie Allan’s call up comes after fast developing a reputation as a neutral’s favourite. Her tricky footwork and love of a nutmeg will be something the home fans are eager to see.
Amber Luchtmeijer and Caley Tallon- Henniker have found opportunities limited at Sydney FC this season, but are both excellent finishers. Prakash was a late call up to the U20 World Cup but did enough to show that she was the real deal, and it will be exciting to see her development continue in Green & Gold.
Grace Kuilamu has earned her first U20 call up after a breakout season with Brisbane Roar. Recovery from an ACL injury has not slowed down the 17 year old. She has returned to the A-League women to lead the line for her hometown club and scored some brilliant goals so far including a run from halfway that recalls some of Sam Kerr’s best efforts.
“After some time away from each other and with the start of a new exciting two-year cycle, the PacificAus Sports Four Nations Tournament presents an exceptional opportunity to assemble a talented group of young Australian footballers for invaluable international experience, Babington told the media.
“They have been on a football development journey for many years with their local grassroots clubs, Ninja A-League clubs and CommBank Junior Matildas, with the ultimate goal of being elite senior footballers capable of being CommBank Matildas.
“This squad is a strong mix of players, many with experience at the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ and FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup™, paired with rising talents identified through the National Youth Championships, Member Federations, and the Ninja A-League, where many of them are already making key contributions for their respective clubs.
“This tournament marks the beginning of an important two-year journey towards the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026™ and provides all players with the opportunity to showcase their technical, tactical, and physical qualities against senior opponents.
“Our immediate focus is to create an environment where these footballers come together as a cohesive unit that plays dynamic, fluid football while embracing the winning mentality that Australians are renowned for,” he concluded.
Entry for all games is free, and for Australian fans, they will be broadcast on the Football Australia Youtube Channel.
Australia U-20 v Vanuatu
Date: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Kick-off: 15:00 AEDT
Venue: Viking Park, Canberra
Australia U-20 v Solomon Islands
Date: Saturday, 22 February 2025
Kick-off: 18:30 AEDT
Venue: Viking Park, Canberra
Australia U-20 v Thailand U-20
Date: Tuesday, 25 February 2025
Kick-off: 18:30 AEDT
Venue: Deakin Stadium, Canberra
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