CommBank Junior Matildas’ Head Coach, Rae Dower has finalised Australia’s 23-player squad to participate at the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup Indonesia 2024™.
Hosted across two venues in Bali, the tournament will see the best of Asia’s next generation take to the pitch from 6-19 May 2024.
The U-17 Women’s National Team begins their Group B campaign against China PR on Tuesday, 7 May 2024 at Bali United Training Center (6.00pm AEST). They will then take on defending champions Japan on Friday, 10 May 2024 at Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium (9.00pm AEST).
Australia will round out their group stage fixtures back at Bali United Training Center against Thailand on Monday, 13 May 2024 (6.00pm AEST).
CommBank Junior Matildas Head Coach Rae Dower said the selected squad was the culmination of 18 months of concerted scouting, camps and Talent Development Scheme matches across Australia with almost 100 footballers provided the opportunity to showcase their abilities.
“We’re excited about the composition of the final squad. We’ve got more depth than ever across this cohort and we’re really happy with the team representing the nation at this prestigious tournament,” she said.
“It’s a squad that is adaptable and flexible, can play a variety of different systems with some strong, robust defenders and real ‘x-factor’ players; creative and dangerous in that middle and final third.”
Six different Member Federations are represented in the final squad with nine players currently signed with A-Leagues Women’s clubs. Recent injuries to a number of players in A-League Women’s clubs have ruled them out of final team selection, opening the door for some first-time call-ups.
“We’ve got a great mix of players who have contributed to our Asian Cup qualification and have five debutants that have been working very hard in their respective Member Federation programs to gain selection,” Dower explained.
“It’s hugely disappointing for the players who’ve succumbed to recent injuries. That’s a part of football and will provide a learning opportunity in dealing with disappointment and building resilience.
“Their misfortune is an opportunity for their teammates. We’ve been working on building depth and that means we’ve got players who will step up and do their country proud in the absence of others.”
“I thank the respective Member Federations and club staff for their support and collaboration in the development of our next-generation female footballers,” she concluded.
To begin preparations and acclimatisation ahead of the tournament, the squad and staff will assemble in Cairns from Wednesday, 24 April ahead of travelling to Bali five days later. Players still in action during the A-League Women’s Finals Series will join the squad at the conclusion of their respective club’s campaign.
“We get the opportunity to come together in Cairns and to build further team cohesion. Now the Draw has been revealed, we can focus more specifically tactically on our confirmed opponents,” Dower said.
“We’ve been diligent in analysing them and are confident that we can overcome any challenges that may arise throughout the tournament.”
The CommBank Junior Matildas are one of eight teams who have qualified for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup Indonesia 2024™ with the nations drawn into two groups of four nations.
The top two from each group will advance to the knockout phase. The top three nations from the competition qualify as the AFC’s representatives at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Dominican Republic 2024™ which will run from 16 October – 3 November 2024.
Fans can follow the CommBank Junior Matildas AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup Indonesia 2024™ on Football Australia’s Facebook, Instagram and X social media accounts.
MATCH SCHEDULE | GROUP B | GROUP STAGE
China PR v Australia
Date: Tuesday, 7 May 2024
Kick-off: 4.00pm (local) / 6.00pm AEST
Venue: Bali United Training Center, Bali
Australia v Japan
Date: Friday, 10 May 2024
Kick-off: 7.00pm (local) / 9.00pm AEST
Venue: Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium, Bali
Australia v Thailand
Date: Monday, 13 May 2024
Kick-off: 4.00pm (local) / 6.00pm AEST
Venue: Bali United Training Center, Bali
FINAL SQUAD | AFC U17 WOMEN’S ASIAN CUP INDONESIA 2024™
| NAME | POSITION | JUNIOR CLUB / MEMBER FEDERATION | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layla | ADAMS | Goalkeeper | Gold Coast United / Football Queensland |
| Caoimhe | BRAY | Goalkeeper | Emerging Jets / Northern NSW Football |
| Danella | BUTRUS | Forward | FV Emerging / Football Victoria |
| Ruby | CUTHBERT | Defender | Brisbane Roar / Football West |
| Sienna | DALE | Forward | Manly FC / Football New South Wales |
| Sian | DEWEY | Midfielder | Adelaide United FC / Football South Australia |
| Indiana | DOS SANTOS | Midfielder | Sydney FC / Football New South Wales |
| Emma | DUNDAS | Midfielder | Newcastle Jets FC / Northern NSW Football |
| Mikayla | DUONG | Midfielder | FNSW Institute / Football New South Wales |
| Alice | FRANCOU | Forward | FV Emerging / Football Victoria |
| Tiana | FULLER | Forward | FNSW Institute / Football New South Wales |
| Ehva | GUTSZMIT | Midfielder | FV Emerging / Football Victoria |
| Isabela | HOYOS | Defender | FQ-QAS / Football Queensland |
| Alvina | KHOSHABA | Defender | FNSW Institute / Football New South Wales |
| Christina | KICEEC | Defender | FNSW Institute / Football New South Wales |
| Shelby | MCMAHON | Midfielder | Melbourne City FC / Football Queensland |
| Kiera | MEYERS | Midfielder | Melbourne City FC / Football Victoria |
| Chloe | PARKER | Defender | FQ-QAS / Football Queensland |
| Lily | PUNCH | Forward | FQ-QAS / Football Queensland |
| Jessica | SKINNER | Goalkeeper | Perth Glory FC / Football West |
| Amelia | TARTAGLIA | Defender | FV Emerging / Football Victoria |
| Annabelle | YATES | Defender | Melbourne Victory FC / Football Victoria |
| Talia | YOUNIS | Midfielder | Western Sydney Wanderers FC / Football New South Wales |
