By Isabelle Campbell 3/7/25
Above: Remy Siemsen. Photo: Cat Bryant for Impetus
After some time in the periphery of the national team, Remy Siemsen is making the most of her opportunity to return to the Matildas setup under new head coach Joe Montemurro.
The Australian forward has already shown her value in the side’s second match against Slovenia and is looking ahead to the upcoming friendlies against Panama.
Back in the green and gold, Siemsen is showing signs of growth, maturity, and a hunger to make the most of the chance she’s been given.
“Honestly, I just wanted to enjoy myself out there. I haven’t been in the national team consistently for the past couple of years and I just really wanted to enjoy myself and play my natural game and not get in my head. I’m just happy to play my part with the team and really grateful to Joe for allowing me that opportunity to play.”
Though the focus is on enjoyment and taking things as they come, Siemsen is aware of the bigger opportunities on the horizon, specifically the chance to be part of the Matildas squad for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup on home soil in 2026. But she’s also trying to stay grounded and focused on the present moment.
“Definitely got my sights set on that Asian Cup selection. I was obviously so close to making that World Cup squad and sadly missed out on that. So my sights are set on that, but I just want to focus on camp to camp, game to game, and just continue building and developing every time I come in.”
A factor in her current comfort and confidence is the presence of familiar faces, particularly midfielder Amy Sayer, a current and a long-time teammate both at club and international levels. Their chemistry on the field has been years in the making.
“Amy and I actually go even further back than Sweden, we’ve played together since we were probably 12 on and off. I really enjoy playing with Amy. She’s a really smart footballer. We really understand how each other plays.
“I was there when she was coming back from her ACL injury and I saw all the hard work that she put in and all the devotion that she put in to get back. stronger, fitter, and you can see that in the way that she’s playing. She’s really confident and I’m just really proud of her and all the efforts that she’s put in.”
Siemsen’s path back into the Matildas has been shaped in large part by her experiences overseas. After time in England’s Women’s Super League, she made the move to Sweden, where the league’s tactical focus and competitive nature have helped push her game to new levels.
“I’ve been really happy there. It’s a very competitive league. Every week, you don’t know who could win on game day, so you can look at the ladder right now and anyone could be in the top place in the next few weeks.
“It’s a really good brand of football. It’s very tactical. I feel like I’m developing and growing and I’m just in a really good professional environment that’s developing me and putting me in good step for national team selection.”
Central to Siemsen’s renewed belief is the support she’s felt from coach Joe Montemurro, who handed her a start in just her second match back in the green and gold. A show of faith that forced her to rise to the occasion.
“It’s been amazing having Joe come in. He’s already instilled so much belief, not just in the starting players, but also the entire squad. I’m a confidence player and he’s definitely instilled some confidence in me, and I think that was evident in the way that I played in the last game.
“I just felt belief from him, belief from the players around me, and it just helped me relax a little bit on the field and just knowing that he backs me, that I could back myself.
Still searching for her first international goal, Siemsen remains hungry but focused on her role in the team and taking pride in the success of teammates like Holly McNamara, who was rewarded for her persistence with a debut goal in the opening match against Slovenia.
“Obviously, being an attacker, you always want to be scoring the goals and getting your name on the score sheet, but for me, it’s just as important to play my role as well as get assists or just work really hard for the team. Eventually that goal will hopefully come and I’m not not putting too much pressure on myself, but I was incredibly happy for Holly. She’s put in the hard work, she’s come back from multiple injuries and come back really strong.
“It would be lovely to get a goal and hopefully that’s coming maybe in the next two games, that would be nice, but not putting too much pressure on it. I just want to enjoy my football and do my role for the team.”
Though it’s only two games into her return, it already feels like the start of a new era for Siemsen. As Australia gears up to face Panama, she’s determined to seize every opportunity and prove her worth on the international stage.
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