Melbourne Victory’s striker Holly Furphy is being touted as a strong contender to follow in the footsteps of Brisbane Roar’s Laini Freier, who made a stunning leap from Ninja A-League newcomer to the CommBank Matildas, after an impressive start to her domestic career.
At just 21 years of age, Furphy joined Victory on an injury replacement deal back in January and has made a significant impact in her first six outings in the navy blue and white.
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Furphy netted her first goal on her debut on January 24 and has now scored in consecutive matches, bringing her total to three goals in only six appearances in the Ninja A-League.
Does that ring a bell?
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Earlier this season, the rise of Laini Freier as a debutant for Brisbane Roar became a hot topic; despite starting her Ninja A-League career without a goal, Freier remarkably followed up with back-to-back hat-tricks, becoming the first player in history to achieve such a milestone.
Freier debuted for Brisbane in mid-December 2024, and her exceptional performance earned her a call-up to the Matildas less than two months later. She made her senior debut against the United States on February 24.
On this week’s episode of Dub Zone, A-Leagues commentator Teo Pellizzeri and Sydney FC legend Teresa Polias discussed whether Furphy could mirror Freier’s path from a rookie in the Ninja A-League to making her international debut – a question that has only one possible response during this transitional period for the national team: why not?
“Can I mention the M-word?” Pellizzeri queried, referencing the Matildas.
“We were quick to jump on that with Laini Freier, can I pluck up the courage to say it about Holly Furphy?”
“Given we’re still under interim coach Tom Sermanni for the upcoming Korea series… we mustn’t forget about Remy Siemsen, who has started scoring again in Sweden, and missed the SheBelieves Cup. I believe she should be back.”
“But looking at the potential emerging from the Ninja A-League, I firmly believe that Holly Furphy deserves a spot in the conversation.”
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Furphy was part of a notable Emerging Matildas squad in 2021, which included talents such as Alana Muphy, Caitlin Karic, Naomi Chidia, and Claudia Mihocic. She later moved to the United States to further her football career while studying at Santa Clara University.
Representing the Young Matildas, Furphy unfortunately sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during her time abroad, which prevented her from competing for a place in the Young Matildas’ Under-20 World Cup squad in 2022.
However, the skills she is showcasing for Victory in the 2024-25 season have left both Pellizzeri and Polias buzzing with excitement about Furphy’s prospects in the Ninja A-League and her potential future in the green and gold.
“Before she went to college, Holly Furphy’s main challenge was her shooting,” Pellizzeri noted. “It’s remarkable to see how much she has improved that aspect overseas, evidenced by her recent goal.”
“She definitely demonstrates persistence,” Polias added, “and maintains her balance superbly. Her striking ability is impressive.”
Pellizzeri continued, “This is a player who had to overcome an ACL injury while in college, losing a year in her development. Although she received a Young Matildas cap, she missed the Under-20 World Cup when the team went to Costa Rica. We’re in dire need of strikers in that age bracket.”
“There’s likely to be a shortage of players in that category unless someone steps up, and I believe Holly Furphy is that emerging talent.”
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