Head Coach Rae Dower has announced her 23-player squad for the Junior Matildas assault on the latest round of AFC U16 Women’s Championship qualifiers to take place in Laos.
Dower’s squad handily won through to the latest round of qualification in September of 2018, when they easily topped their preliminary qualification group after 11-0 wins over Palestine and Indonesia, a 10-0 win over Kyrgyzstan and a 7-0 defeat of Taiwan.
They will now face Iran on 3 March, Vietnam on 5 March and Laos on 7 March at the New Laos National Stadium in Vientiane.
A first or second place finish in their pool will book Australia’s place at the AFC U16 Women’s Championship; joining already qualified defending champion North Korea, host Thailand, 2017 runners-up South Korea and 2017 third-placed Japan.
As a part of the squad announcement, it was also revealed by the FFA that the 23-player squad would – having already assembled in Canberra for a four-day training camp earlier in 2019 – will enjoy a training camp on the Gold Coast and another in Laos ahead of their clash with Iran.
“I’m excited to announce the team for the upcoming round two qualifiers to be held in Laos in early March,” Dower said.
“We’ve made a couple of changes since the first phase of qualifying which provides an opportunity to strengthen the depth of this playing cohort, exposing them to international competition.
“Naturally some players will be disappointed, but it’s important for the players that missed out to continue to work hard back at their clubs and look to improve themselves so that they’re ready to go when the next opportunity arises.
“I’m really looking forward to getting the team together for our upcoming camp in Queensland before we head off to Laos. We’ll all be working hard in preparation with our sights firmly set on the Iran match on 3 March.”
The AFC U-16 Women’s Championship will serve as the qualification process for the 2020 U-17 Women’s World Cup, a tournament the Junior Matildas have yet to qualify for since the first tournament in 2008.
Junior Matildas 23-Player Squad | 2019 AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Qualification – Round Two
| Name | Member Federation / Club |
| Emma ILIJOSKI | Capital Football / Canberra United Academy |
| Charlie RULE | Football NSW / FNSW Institute |
| Jessika NASH | Football NSW / FNSW Institute |
| Darcey MALONE | Football NSW / FNSW Institute / Sydney FC |
| Kahli JOHNSON | Football NSW / Manly United Football Club |
| Chloe CARMICHAEL (Gk) | Football NSW / Western Sydney Wanderers FC / FNSW Institute |
| Anna HUNT | Football NSW Country / NSW Western Mariners |
| Jordan JASNOS | Football NSW Country / Riverino Rhinos |
| Charlotte FARMER | Football Queensland / Brisbane Roar NTC |
| Georgia BEAUMONT | Football Queensland / Brisbane Roar NTC |
| Jamilla RANKIN | Football Queensland / Brisbane Roar NTC |
| Mia BAILEY (Gk) | Football Queensland / Brisbane Roar NTC / JCU Strikers FC |
| Grace TARANTO | Football Victoria / NTC Victoria |
| Paige ZOIS | Football Victoria / NTC Victoria |
| Alana JANCEVSKI | Football Victoria / NTC Victoria |
| Nia STAMATOPOULOS | Football Victoria / NTC Victoria / Melbourne City FC |
| Hana LOWRY | Football West / Perth Glory |
| Isabella WALLHEAD | Football West / Perth Glory |
| Tijan MCKENNA | Football West / Perth Glory / Cockburn City |
| Josie MORLEY | Northern NSW Football / Newcastle Jets Academy |
| Kirsty FENTON | Northern NSW Football / Newcastle Jets Academy |
| Ruby JONES (Gk) | Northern NSW Football / Newcastle Jets Academy |
| Teagan DOUGLAS | Northern NSW Football / Newcastle Jets Academy |
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