The Australian U-23 Women’s National Team will play its first matches of 2023 when a 24-player squad travels to the AIS European Training Centre in Varese, Italy later this month for a training camp and two match program.
Australian U-23 Women’s Head Coach Melissa Andreatta has selected a squad that features Australia’s most exciting up and coming players competing in the A-League Women’s competition and international leagues.
Taking place during the September FIFA Women’s International Window, Australia will face Serie A Femminile side A.C Milan in a closed doors clash on Friday, 22 September in Milan before meeting Scotland’s newly formed U-23 Women’s National Team at the AIS European Training Centre on Tuesday, 26 September.
Andreatta expressed the importance of Football Australia’s U-23 Women’s National Team program in light of the fastpaced development of women’s football globally.
“The recent FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ demonstrated just how rapidly women’s football is advancing in terms of the quality on the pitch,” Andreatta said.
“The U-23 Women’s National Team program is a vital step for us as a nation to continue the evolution of players in that crucial age group. It not only provides the honour of being able to represent Australia but also the opportunity to gain invaluable experience at international level which is difficult to replicate in any other forum.”
The Australian squad consists of 16 players set to feature heavily in the upcoming 2023/24 A-League Women’s competition, with a further eight players plying their trade in the leagues across France, England, Sweden, Spain and Denmark.
“In selecting the squad, we looked to reward players who have shown consistent form over a period of time in international leagues, the A-League Women’s and National Premier Leagues,” Andreatta explained.
“Taking on A.C. Milan and Scotland presents a unique occasion for these players to face quality opposition and then to test themselves against those in their age group to learn about how they can continue to develop their international play.
“These matches will assist in that critical transitioning work from youth to senior level, particularly for a cohort for whom very few would have the diversity of opponents that European teams present.
“The camp provides them with good quality match minutes and demonstrates continued investment by Football Australia in players to provide them with the best platform for success in the advent of a senior team call up,” Andreatta concluded.
Fans will also be able to follow the matches via Facebook, Twitter @FootballAUS, Instagram @FootballAUS.
U23 WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM | MATCH SCHEDULE | SEPTEMBER 2023
A.C. Milan Women’s v Australia U-23 WNT
Date: Fri, 22 September 2023 (local) / Saturday, 23 September (AEST)
Kick-Off: 5.30pm (local) / 1:30 am (AEST)
Australia U23 WNT v Scotland U-23 WNT
Date: Tues, 26 September 2023
Venue: AIS European Training Centre, Varese
Kick-Off: 11:30 am (local) / 7:30pm (AEST)
AUSTRALIA U-23 WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM SQUAD | SEPTEMBER 2023
| NAME | POSITION | CLUB / MEMBER FEDERATION |
| Alexia APOSTOLAKIS | Defender | Western Sydney Wanderers / Football NSW |
| Alana CERNE | Defender | Western United / Football Victoria |
| Chelsea DAWBER | Forward | Norrkoping / Football South Australia |
| Polly DORAN | Defender | Crystal Palace / Football Victoria |
| Daniela GALIC | Midfielder | Melbourne City / Football NSW |
| Annalee GROVE | Goalkeeper | Adelaide United / Northern NSW Football |
| Mackenzie HAWKESBY | Midfielder | Brighton & Hove Albion / Football NSW |
| Winonah HEATLEY | Defender | Nordsjaelland / Football Queensland |
| Bryleeh HENRY | Forward | Melbourne City / Football NSW |
| Sarah HUNTER | Midfielder | Paris FC / Football NSW |
| Sally JAMES | Goalkeeper | Perth Glory / Capital Football |
| Kahli JOHNSON | Forward | Western United / Football NSW |
| Chloe LINCOLN | Goalkeeper | Canberra United / Football NSW |
| Hana LOWRY | Midfielder | Perth Glory / Football West |
| Anna MARGRAF | Defender | Sporting De Huelva / Football Queensland |
| Holly MCNAMARA | Forward | Melbourne City / Football NSW |
| Alana MURPHY | Midfielder | Melbourne Victory / Football Victoria |
| Emilia MURRAY | Forward | Adelaide United / Football South Australia |
| Jessica NASH | Defender | Melbourne Victory / Football NSW |
| Charlize RULE | Defender | Brighton & Hove Albion / Football NSW |
| Amy SAYER | Midfielder | Kristianstads DFF / Football NSW |
| Naomi THOMAS-CHINNAMA | Defender | Melbourne City / Football Victoria |
| Ella TONKIN | Defender | Adelaide United / Football South Australia |
| Kaitlyn TORPEY | Defender | Melbourne City / Football Queensland |
