The CommBank Young Matildas have named a squad heavily populated by players from the Ninja A-League for the upcoming PacificAus Sports Four Nations Tournament.
Australia’s Under-20 side will compete against Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and Thailand in Canberra, with 25 of the 26 selected players hailing from the A-League.
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16-year-old prodigy Tiana Fuller from Central Coast Mariners is among those rewarded for her outstanding performances in the Ninja A-League. Brisbane Roar’s Grace Kuilamu and Alexia Apostolakis, a key figure in Melbourne City’s remarkable unbeaten start, are also included.
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The Young Matildas will launch their tournament against Vanuatu at Viking Park on February 19, followed by a match against the Solomon Islands three days later at the same ground. The final fixture versus Thailand will take place at Deakin Stadium on February 25.
The 25 members of the Ninja A-League making up the Young Matildas squad come from 10 different clubs:
Adelaide United: Sian Dewey, Ilona Melegh
Brisbane Roar: Isabela Hoyos, Zara Kruger, Grace Kuilamu
Canberra United: Tegan Bertolissio, Mary Stanic-Floody
Central Coast Mariners: Tiana Fuller, Peta Trimis
Melbourne City: Alexia Apostolakis, Shelby McMahon
Newcastle Jets: Claire Adams, Josie Allan
Perth Glory: Jessica Skinner
Sydney FC: Jasmine Black, Madeleine Caspers, Indiana Dos Santos, Amber Luchtmeijer, Rubi Sullivan, Caley Tallon-Henniker
Western Sydney Wanderers: Amelia Bennett, Maya Lobo, Sienna Saveska, Talia Younis
Western United: Avaani Prakash
“After some time apart and the commencement of an exciting new two-year cycle, the PacificAus Sports Four Nations Tournament offers an extraordinary chance to gather a talented group of young Australian footballers for vital international experience,” stated interim head coach Kory Babington.
“These athletes have embarked on a development journey through their local grassroots clubs, the Ninja A-League, and the CommBank Junior Matildas, with the ultimate aim of becoming elite senior players capable of representing the CommBank Matildas.
“This squad is a strong blend of players, many of whom have experienced the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ and FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup™, alongside emerging talents identified through the National Youth Championships, Member Federations, and the Ninja A-League, where many are already making significant contributions at their clubs.
“This tournament marks the start of an important two-year pathway to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026™, providing all players with an opportunity to display their technical, tactical, and physical skills against experienced opponents.
“Our primary objective is to foster an environment where these footballers unite as a cohesive group that champions dynamic, fluid play while embodying the winning mentality that Australians are famed for.”
Details of the PacificAus Sports Four Nations Tournament
Australia U-20 vs. Vanuatu
Date: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Kick-off: 3:00 PM AEDT
Venue: Viking Park, Canberra
Broadcast: Football Australia YouTube, FIFA+
Australia U-20 vs. Solomon Islands
Date: Saturday, 22 February 2025
Kick-off: 6:30 PM AEDT
Venue: Viking Park, Canberra
Broadcast: Football Australia YouTube, FIFA+
Australia U-20 vs. Thailand U-20
Date: Tuesday, 25 February 2025
Kick-off: 6:30 PM AEDT
Venue: Deakin Stadium, Canberra
Broadcast: Football Australia YouTube, FIFA+
Young Matildas Squad
| NAME | POSITION | CLUB | MEMBER FEDERATION | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claire | ADAMS | Midfielder | Newcastle Jets | NNSW Football |
| Josie | ALLAN | Forward | Newcastle Jets | NNSW Football |
| Alexia | APOSTOLAKIS | Defender | Melbourne City | Football NSW |
| Amelia | BENNETT | Defender | Western Sydney Wanderers | Football NSW |
| Tegan | BERTOLISSIO | Defender | Canberra United | Football NSW |
| Jasmine | BLACK | Goalkeeper | Sydney FC | Football NSW |
| Madeleine | CASPERS | Midfielder | Sydney FC | Football NSW |
| Sian | DEWEY | Midfielder | Adelaide United | Football SA |
| Indiana | DOS SANTOS | Midfielder | Sydney FC | Football NSW |
| Tiana | FULLER | Forward | Central Coast Mariners | Football NSW |
| Isabela | HOYOS | Defender | Brisbane Roar | Football QLD |
| Zara | KRUGER | Midfielder | Brisbane Roar | Football QLD |
| Grace | KUILAMU | Forward | Brisbane Roar | Football QLD |
| Maya | LOBO | Defender | Western Sydney Wanderers | Football NSW |
| Amber | LUCHTMEIJER | Forward | Sydney FC | Football NSW |
| Shelby | MCMAHON | Midfielder | Melbourne City | Football QLD |
| Ilona | MELEGH | Goalkeeper | Adelaide United | Football SA |
| Avaani | PRAKASH | Midfielder | Western United | Football NSW |
| Sienna | SAVESKA | Forward | Western Sydney Wanderers | Football NSW |
| Anastasia | SIMIC | Defender | South Australia NTC | Football SA |
| Jessica | SKINNER | Goalkeeper | Perth Glory | Football West |
| Mary | STANIC-FLOODY | Midfielder | Canberra United | Football NSW |
| Rubi | SULLIVAN | Defender | Sydney FC | Football NSW |
| Caley | TALLON-HENNIKER | Forward | Sydney FC | Football NSW |
| Peta | TRIMIS | Forward | Central Coast Mariners | Football NSW |
| Talia | YOUNIS | Midfielder | Western Sydney Wanderers | Football NSW |
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
Fanpage: SportArena.com.au.
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