Westfield Matildas coach Alen Stajcic will have some difficult decisions to make when he sits down to select his squad for next year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
The Westfield W-League will have wrapped by then and tickets for a spot on the plane to Jordan are expected to be keenly contested.
Here are four Young Matildas talents who could force their way into calculations come April 2018.
ALEX CHIDIAC
A proven commodity despite her young years, Chidiac has already impressed Stajcic enough to be part of both the Algarve Cup and Tournament of Nations squads this year.
The Adelaide United playmaker made her international debut shortly after turning 16 and, almost three years on, appears ready for a regular place in the national squad.
She was Australia’s equal top-scorer at the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship in October, having underlined her talent by winning the PFA’s young women’s player of the year award.
REMY SIEMSEN
It takes a special young player to stand up in a derby and Siemsen certainly proved her penchant for the big stage with two goals in a 3-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers earlier this month.
It was another sign of the striker’s impressive progress since being named the Westfield W-League’s young player of the year last term.
Alongside Chidiac, the 18-year-old led the way at the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship with a goal in each of Australia’s group games.
GRACE MAHER
Another of the nation’s exciting crop of emerging creative midfielders, Maher is already into her fourth season at the top level.
That experience has been reflected in her mature performances under Canberra United mentor Heather Garriock, the perfect role model for an aspiring Matilda.
Maher’s own dream appears set to be realised sooner rather than later given she was called into a three-day training camp with the national team in February.
The local Canberran showed her eye for goal with a fine strike against Perth Glory in November.
KYRA COONEY-CROSS
Arguably the breakout star of the current campaign, Cooney-Cross burst onto the scene with a string of eye-catching displays for Melbourne Victory.
The speedy 15-year-old winger has received big wraps from coach Jeff Hopkins and immediately shown why in a debut performance beyond her years in the opening round victory over Canberra.
She has gone from strength to strength since and, with her impressive pace and close control, Cooney-Cross could become a wildcard option in attack.
