I've based the list on form this season in A-League Women in addition to major tournament experience and previous international experience, but I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on who to cull because I'm not sure which players end up making the final 26-player list.
From that squad?
Alana Murphy already has tournament experience having played in the SheBelieves Cup and Katrina Gorry has leadership qualities, in addition to having been part of the Matildas squad for the past two major tournament cycles, and I want a mixture of experience and youth because it'll be detrimental for us if we go into the Women's Asian Cup with a completely inexperienced side, but at the same time if we have the oldest squad in the comp then that would also be problematic.
My squad is the same as this but:
Yeah that's why I decided to not include Emily Gielni, Alanna Kennedy, Aivi Luik, Emily van Egmond, even though this could be the former one and latter three's last possible tournament (Lani will probably last a few more years but is probably done with the Tillies).
10 News has confirmed that Mary Fowler will be in the squad!
Great to see Mary Fowler finally back in a Matildas squad for a major tournament cycle which will no doubt be a boost to a forward line somewhat decimated by injuries to key players.
I HOPE Daniela Galić. But I’ve hoped that for ages and she’s only got five caps.
I think Daniela Galic is a shout to make the final list as a differential option in attacking midfield, and Annalise Rasmussen will also likely make the squad and be given a senior Matildas debut following her remarkable form for Central Coast Mariners despite not getting game time since being transferred.
The final 26-player list for the Matildas hasn't been announced yet so some of the squad will be subject to change, but even still I don't think Alanna Kennedy or Emily van Egmond should be making the playing list if we ideally want to be going all the way.
Great squad and would be even better if we switched Michelle Heyman and Emily van Egmond for Daniela Galić and Annalise Rasmussen. Is EvE only in A. so she can break the cap record set by Clare Polkinghorne (Polks shoulda also been let go earlier) and B. because she plays in the WSL (albeit for the worst team)?
The squad is alright but if that is the best 26-player list for the Matildas then it shows serious problems with the selection policy given that we're picking the same old players and still turning to Alanna Kennedy and Emily van Egmond, even though both are clearly past their prime and starting to regress.
| Player | Caps |
|---|---|
| Emily Van Egmond | 165 |
| Alanna Kennedy | 142 |
| Steph Catley (vc) | 141 |
| Caitlin Foord | 140 |
| Sam Kerr (c) | 131 |
| Katrina Gorry | 118 |
| Hayley Raso | 103 |
| Ellie Carpenter (vc) | 93 |
| Michelle Heyman | 85 |
| Kyra Cooney-Cross | 63 |
| Mary Fowler | 63 |
| Mackenzie Arnold | 61 |
| Courtney Nevin | 40 |
| Clare Hunt | 39 |
| Alex Chidiac | 37 |
| Clare Wheeler | 34 |
| Teagan Micah | 28 |
| Kaitlyn Torpey | 21 |
| Amy Sayer | 19 |
| Holly McNamara | 16 |
| Remy Siemsen | 14 |
| Winonah Heatley | 13 |
| Jamilla Rankin | 7 |
| Kahli Johnson | 3 |
| Charlize Rule | 1 |
| Jada Whyman | 0 |
After this tournament I expect we’ll move on from a couple players like we did at the World Cup. Michelle Heyman, Emily van Egmond and Tameka Yallop (not in the squad) should be moved on. Katrina Gorry could last till the World Cup.
After the Paris 2024 Olympics debacle we really should have moved on from the old guard instead of keeping them in Matildas squads, and keeping the same old players including the likes of Alanna Kennedy and Emily van Egmond for the Women's Asian Cup only serves to reiterate that the Tillies selection policy is flawed.