WATCH: A year to remember for the Westfield Matildas

The Westfield Matildas announced themselves as a genuine powerhouse of World football in 2017 with a series of swashbuckling performances and incredible results. 

Australia started the year with a respectable fourth-placed finish at Portugal's Algarve Cup, their highest-ever finish at the tournament. 

Fast-forward to August and impressive wins over USA (their first ever), Japan and Brazil saw Alen Stajcic's side claim the Tournament of Nations in America. 

Following that triumph, Australia returned home to host Brazil in a two-match friendly series in Penrith and Newcastle. 

And the response from the fans was immense. 

The Penrith match sold out two weeks prior to the match, with fans flocking to get a glimpse of the exciting Aussie outfit. 

With more than 15,000 fans flooding through the gates in Sydney's West, it was the first time in history that the Westfield Matildas had played in front of a sold-out venue on home soil.

And with Lisa De Vanna and Sam Kerr netting superb goals, the vast majority went home happy. 

Not to be outdone, Newcastle upped the ante just three days later. 

A stunning 16,829 fans turned out at Hunter Stadium as Kerr's spectacular brace fired the Westfield Matildas to a thrilling 3-2 win over the Samba Stars. 

Just over two months later, Stajcic's side hosted fellow AFC nation China in another two-game series, this time in Victoria. 

And the Westfield Matildas again failed to disappoint. 

Australia dominated in 3-0 and 5-1 victories in Melbourne and Geelong respectively, with Sam Kerr starring with a brace in both fixtures. 

With the Asian Cup in April looming on the horizon, you wouldn't back against Australia continuing their incredible rise in 2018. 

Take a look back at the Matildas' incredible year in the video at the top of the page.