A Westfield Matildas development squad will enter camp in Wollongong this week from Thursday, 22 March to 25 March.
A Westfield Matildas development squad will enter camp in Wollongong this week from Thursday, 22 March to 25 March.
Westfield Matildas Head Coach Tom Sermanni has selected a 27-player squad with a mix of established and emerging talent. "This is the start of the next (AFC) Asian Cup and (FIFA) World Cup campaign and a chance to take a closer look at some of the players emerging from the Westfield W-League," said Sermanni.
“The plan is to bring in players to experience the camp environment and see how they handle the intensity of the national team setup.
“Over the next 6-12 months we have the opportunity to take a good look at as many players as we can and see how they fit into our structure and certainly this first part of the year will be a chance to look at some of the younger players.
Star striker and 2010 AFC Women-s Player of the Year, Kate Gill, returns to the Westfield Matildas fold for the first time since sustaining a season ending knee injury on the eve of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.
“It will be a good opportunity for these young players to come in with some of our more experienced players and it-s great to have Kate Gill back in the squad following what was an extremely tough year for her - she-s a total professional and her attitude to training and playing will no doubt be a good influence on the younger girls.”
The camp will see a host of Westfield W-League players to make a lasting impression with Canberra's championship winning central defensive unit of Ellie Brush and Caitlin Cooper joining the likes of Danielle Brogan, Teresa Polias, Catherine Cannuli and
Some of the players making the step up into the senior national side are a host of Westfield Young Matildas including Tara Andrews, Ashley Brown, Stephanie Catley, Emily Gielnik, Katrina Gorry, and Alanna Kennedy.
The first Westfield Matildas training camp for the year will be missing a host of overseas overseas based stars including Michelle Heyman (Brondby, Denmark), Aivi Luik (Brondby, Denmark), Leena Khamis (Fortuna Hjørring, Denmark), Kim Carroll (Fortuna Hjørring, Denmark), Lisa De Vanna (Linköping FC, Sweden), Lydia Williams (Piteå IF Dam, Sweden), Sally Shipard (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Laura Alleway (Lincoln, England), Collette McCallum (Lincoln, England).
Westfield Matildas captain Melissa Barbieri will miss this camp following recent surgery on an injured ankle and instead will be conducting Illicit Drugs In Sport (IDIS) and Club Champions presentations in the Northern Territory.
Westfield Matildas training camp 22-25 March 2012 Wollongong
ALLEN, Teigen Sydney FC ANDREWS, Tara (U18) Newcastle Jets ARNOLD, Mackenzie (U18) Perth Glory BROGAN, Danielle Sydney FC BROWN, Ashley (U18) Melbourne Victory BRUSH, Ellie Canberra United BUTT, Tameka Brisbane Roar CANNULI, Catherine Brisbane Roar CATLEY, Stephanie Melbourne Victory CHECKER, Emma (U18) Adelaide United COLTHORPE, Lauren Brisbane Roar COOPER, Caitlin Canberra United DAVEY, Brianna (U18) Melbourne Victory FOORD, Caitlin (U18) Sydney FC GARRIOCK, Heather Sydney FC GIELNIK, Emily Brisbane Roar GILL, Kathryn Perth Glory GORRY, Katrina Melbourne Victory KENNEDY, Alanna (U18) Newcastle Jets MCLAREN, Sian Adelaide United POLIAS, Teresa Sydney FC POLKINGHORNE, Clare Brisbane Roar POPOVIC, Vedrana Brisbane Roar SIMON, Kyah Sydney FC SLATYER, Thea Sydney FC SPENCE, Brooke Brisbane Roar UZUNLAR, Servet Sydney FC VAN EGMOND, Emily Newcastle Jets WALSH, Sarah Sydney FC