14 NSW born stars heavily represented in Young Matildas June training camp

As many as 14 NSW born representatives will do their bit in impressing Westfield Young Matildas head coach Leah Blayney following her 29-player squad to come together for a training camp held from 13-18 June 2021 in Sydney, NSW. 

Margaux Chauvet, Amy Chessari, Brianna Edwards, Samantha Emms, Gemma Ferris, Sarah Hunter, Jordan Jasnos, Kahli Johnson, Aideen Keane, Holly McNamara, Jessika Nash, Cushla Rue, Charlie Rule and Claudia Valletta will all be flying the NSW flag hoping to grab a coveted Young Matildas spot.

A further seven players selected, although not born in NSW, play their football in the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s top tier competition as the likes of  Emma Ilijoski, Sally James, Hannah Jones, Hana Lowry, Leticia McKenna, Jamila Rankin and Miranda Templeman will also be out there to impress Blayney and co.

Working in conjunction with Westfield W-League coaches, Member Federation staff and regional coaches, Blayney and her technical staff have identified players from across Australia to continue the Westfield Young Matildas’ campaign for the 2022 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup.

The squad consists of members from Capital Football, Football NSW, Football Queensland, Football West and Northern NSW Football, with the recent lockdown limiting the selection of players from Victoria for this camp.

“It is always exciting to be able to come together as a team of players and staff,” said Blayney.

“Every assembly is an opportunity to become one day better as a group.  For this camp, we are looking to build on seeds planted from previous Elite Matches as we further bed down our playing style and re-affirm the expectations we set as a team.”

The squad that comes together is a mix of new players for the U-20 cycle, some Westfield Junior Matildas graduates and experienced U-20 campaigners.

Ten players from the roster received playing minutes during the recent Westfield W-League season, with another significant portion involved in the Elite Matches over the past four months.

For Blayney, the training camp will be as much about what the group take away from the upcoming six days, as about the time together.

“We want to continue to empower the players and professional development coaches we have had in to take back certain standards into their own environments,” she said.

“To further educate the group around what it takes to be a professional footballer – a Westfield Matilda – with demanding training sessions, as well as off the pitch workshops that demonstrate our belief in the human first, then the player.”

“The work we do together is important, however, considering the time we have away from each other, we need to ensure we are all continuing to progress so we can make the most of the time when we do assemble.”

Blayney will be without two Westfield Young Matildas for this camp, and she couldn’t be happier about the prospect.  On 10 June, two of her charges, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Courtney Nevin, made their Westfield Matildas debuts against Denmark in Horsens.  Also receiving a call for the June FIFA Window was recent program graduate, Charlotte Grant.

“I am so pleased to see Kyra, Courtney and Charlotte taking that next step in their young careers,” she beamed.

“Both Kyra and Courtney have been a part of the Westfield Young Matildas and the Future Matildas Sydney for three years now, with Charlie joining us for the last two years.  It’s so satisfying to witness their commitment to themselves and the program coming to fruition.

“Our role is to aid in the preparation and transition of these players from good youth players, into attractive players for our senior national team.  It’s a credit to the whole coaching and support staff that we able to assist them to transition to the highest level of the game.

“We have seen it with Mary Fowler, who spent time in the program prior to France 2019, and with Karly Roestbakken also graduating recently to make her senior debut at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019.”

“For the players coming into this June camp, it will be inspiring and motivating to see their current and former Westfield Young Matildas teammates making the most of their opportunities and lessons learned in this environment.”

The Westfield Young Matildas are set to commence their qualification campaign for the 2022 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup from 14-22 August 2021.

Westfield Young Matildas Squad | Training Camp | 13 – 18 June 2021