OZ PREPARE FOR AFF WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP

For the AFF Championship, the Australians have been placed in Group B against Vietnam, Philippines and hosts Myanmar B.

“The squad has some of the best technically gifted young players that Australia has produced,” said Robert Hooker, the head coach.

“It is the start of the serious build up to the AFF Championship in October..”

With four players backing up the team following Australia’s campaign the AFC U19 championship in China last month, Hooker believes this experience will be vital to the training squad.

“Emily Van Egmond, Nicola Bolger, Tiegan Allan and Sam Kerr are all backing up the team after the U-19 campaign. They will add a great deal of quality and experience to the upcoming camp as well as the AFF Championship in Myanmar (in October) and the Asian Cup in Thailand (in November),“ added Hooker.

“The Asian Cup is also the qualifying tournament for the Under-17 World Cup so it is very important for the development of this group of players.”

Joining the squad are current and former Matildas, Melissa Barbieri and Joanne Peters who will work as assistant coaches to Hooker.

“Melissa and Joey have been invited to assist me as part of an initiative to promote and provide elite level coaching experience for female coaches,” he said.

AUSTRALIA WOMEN’S UNDER-16 TRAINING SQUAD

Teigan Allen (Sydney), Tara Andrews (Newcastle), Nicole Bolger (Sydney), Hannah Brewer (Newcastle), Sharni Brown (Sydney), Ashley Brown (Melbourne), Catherine Brown (Canberra), Nicole Calder (Adelaide), Stephanie Catley (Melbourne), Brianna Davey (Melbourne), Erika Elze (Brisbane), Ashlee Faul (Adelaide), Grace Field (Canberra), Caitlin Foord (Sydney), Caitlin Friend (Melbourne), Michaela Hatzirodos (Brisbane), Amy Higgins (Brisbane), Kahlia Hogg (Canberra), Courtney Holmwood (Brisbane), Samantha Kerr (Perth), Lani Honecker (Huskisson, Alexandra Huynh (Sydney), Alanna Kennedy (Sydney), Heidi Makrillos (Sydney), Courtney Miller (Newcastle), Gemma Pearce (Newcastle), Candace Sciberras (Sydney), Madeline Searl (Newcastle), Rachael Soutar (Sydney), Rebekah Stott (Brisbane), Emily Van Egmond (Newcastle), Ruth Wallace (Adelaide), Jessie Wharepouri (Sydney), Brittany Whitfield (Brisbane).