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Apostolakis and Gallagher named in 24-player CommBank Young Matildas Squad For Aotearoa New Zealand Tour

Alexia Apostolakis and Sheridan Gallagher are set to travel across the Tasman for their first match internationally in almost three years, with the U20 side taking on the Junior Football Ferns on Sunday 12 June 2022.   

The travelling squad includes a combination of established CommBank Young Matildas and exciting fresh faces.  Seven new names join the 17 players who featured in April’s international series in Canberra.  Meanwhile, all 24 players have participated in at least one of the recent training camps undertaken at Blacktown International Sportspark.   

Leah Blayney said: “It’s exciting to be naming the squad for the next milestone in our FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica 2022™ journey.”   

“As we continue to progress, we are establishing a core that is building an understanding of what it takes to perform and be successful at the highest level.  This is being complemented by the introduction of new players to the set-up whom have impressed and earned the chance to see how they can add to our team.”   

The squad sees seven Member Federations represented from Football NSW, Football Victoria, Northern NSW Football, Capital Football, Football Queensland, Football South Australia, and Football West.  With the National Premier Leagues (NPL) Women’s competition currently underway across the nation, 11 clubs will see representation across the squad.   

The CommBank Young Matildas in their international friendly against New Zealand in Canberra, April 2022. (Photo: Ann Odong / Football Australia)
The CommBank Young Matildas in their international friendly against New Zealand in Canberra, April 2022. (Photo: Ann Odong / Football Australia)

“We have been keeping a close eye on the players’ performances since the commencement of the NPL Women’s season.  The scouting of those matches, combined with the recent domestic camps, have provided us with a good understanding of the players chosen.  All the girls have worked hard and demonstrated qualities which could be beneficial and, as a result, they made the selection process difficult.”   

“Facing New Zealand allows us to continue refining the concepts embedded during the training camps in an overseas match environment.  It also allows us to gain an understanding of the squad’s ability to adapt to changing scenarios, particularly with many experiencing international travel for the first time in their careers.”   

The CommBank Young Matildas will depart for Aotearoa New Zealand on 8 June 2022.   

UPCOMING COMMBANK YOUNG MATILDAS FIXTURES:  
 
New Zealand v Australia 
Date: Sunday, 12 June 2022 
Time: 2.00pm (local) / 4.00pm (AEST) 
Venue: Kiwitea Street, Auckland 
Tickets: Open to the public free of charge 
 
COMMBANK YOUNG MATILDAS | SQUAD | 8 – 16 JUNE 2022 

NAME  POSITION CLUB / MEMBER FEDERATION 
Alexia APOSTOLAKIS Defender Football NSW Institute / Football NSW 
Naomi CHINNAMA Defender Blacktown Spartans / Football Victoria 
Jynaya DOS SANTOS Forward Football NSW Institute / Football NSW 
Kirsty FENTON Defender NWS Spirit FC / NNSW Football 
Holly FURPHY  Forward  Santa Clara University / Football Victoria 
Daniela GALIC Midfielder Football NSW Institute / Football NSW 
Sheridan GALLAGHER Forward Illawarra Stingrays / Football NSW 
Katie GODDEN  Forward  DePaul University / Windlesham United  
Annabel HAFFENDEN Defender Unattached / Football Queensland 
Bryleeh HENRY Forward Blacktown Spartans / Football NSW 
Sarah HUNTER Midfielder APIA Leichhardt / Football NSW 
Sally JAMES  Goalkeeper  Blacktown Spartans / Capital Football  
Caitlin KARIC Forward FV Emerging Matildas / Football Victoria 
Abbey LEMON Forward Blacktown Spartans / Football NSW 
Chloe LINCOLN Goalkeeper Canberra United Academy / Capital Football 
Hana LOWRY Midfielder Blacktown Spartans / Football West 
Alana MURPHY Midfielder Blacktown Spartans / Football Victoria 
Jessika NASH Defender Blacktown Spartans / Football NSW 
Anna NORTON Goalkeeper Blacktown Spartans / Football NSW 
Jamilla RANKIN Defender Blacktown Spartans / NNSW Football 
Cushla RUE Defender Sydney University FC / Football NSW 
Charlize RULE Defender Sydney Olympic / Football NSW 
Ella TONKIN Defender Northern Tigers / Football SA 
Paige ZOIS Midfielder Bulleen Lions / Football Victoria