Westfield Junior Matildas Head Coach Rae Dower has named four Queenslanders in Australia’s squad for the forthcoming 2019 AFC Under 16 Women’s Championship qualifiers in Vientiane, Laos.
Charlotte Farmer, Georgia Beaumont, Jamilla Rankin and Mia Bailey are part of the 23-player group which will enjoy a strong lead up to the second stage of qualifying to be held in Vientiane, with a training camp on the Gold Coast to take place prior to a camp in Laos ahead of the Westfield Junior Matildas’ qualification matches against IR Iran (3 March), Vietnam (5 March), and the host nation (7 March).
In September, Dower’s squad ventured to Bishkek in Kyrgyz Republic for the first phase of qualifying and won all four of their matches to advance comfortably to round two.
“I’m excited to announce the team for the upcoming round two qualifiers to be held in Laos in early March,” Dower said.
“We’ve seen the players at a hotly contested training camp recently at the AIS in Canberra, and in an internal match at Valentine Sports Park.
“We’ve made a couple of changes since the first phase of qualifying which provides an opportunity to strengthen the depth of this playing cohort, exposing them to international competition.
“Naturally some players will be disappointed, but it’s important for the players that missed out to continue to work hard back at their clubs and look to improve themselves so that they’re ready to go when the next opportunity arises.
“I’m really looking forward to getting the team together for our upcoming camp in Queensland before we head off to Laos. We’ll all be working hard in preparation with our sights firmly set on the Iran match on 3 March.”
Australia will require a top two finish in their pool in Laos to advance to the 2019 AFC Under 16 Women’s Championship, which will be held in September this year.
The 2019 AFC Under 16 Women’s Championship will serve as the qualification process for the 2020 FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup.
Westfield Junior Matildas 23-Player Squad | 2019 AFC Under 16 Women’s Championship Qualification – Round Two (Vientiane, Laos)
Name | Member Federation / Club |
Emma ILIJOSKI | Capital Football / Canberra United Academy |
Charlie RULE | Football NSW / FNSW Institute |
Jessika NASH | Football NSW / FNSW Institute |
Darcey MALONE | Football NSW / FNSW Institute / Sydney FC |
Kahli JOHNSON | Football NSW / Manly United Football Club |
Chloe CARMICHAEL (Gk) | Football NSW / Western Sydney Wanderers FC / FNSW Institute |
Anna HUNT | Football NSW Country / NSW Western Mariners |
Jordan JASNOS | Football NSW Country / Riverino Rhinos |
Charlotte FARMER | Football Queensland / Brisbane Roar NTC |
Georgia BEAUMONT | Football Queensland / Brisbane Roar NTC |
Jamilla RANKIN | Football Queensland / Brisbane Roar NTC |
Mia BAILEY (Gk) | Football Queensland / Brisbane Roar NTC / JCU Strikers FC |
Grace TARANTO | Football Victoria / NTC Victoria |
Paige ZOIS | Football Victoria / NTC Victoria |
Alana JANCEVSKI | Football Victoria / NTC Victoria |
Nia STAMATOPOULOS | Football Victoria / NTC Victoria / Melbourne City FC |
Hana LOWRY | Football West / Perth Glory |
Isabella WALLHEAD | Football West / Perth Glory |
Tijan MCKENNA | Football West / Perth Glory / Cockburn City |
Josie MORLEY | Northern NSW Football / Newcastle Jets Academy |
Kirsty FENTON | Northern NSW Football / Newcastle Jets Academy |
Ruby JONES (Gk) | Northern NSW Football / Newcastle Jets Academy |
Teagan DOUGLAS | Northern NSW Football / Newcastle Jets Academy |
Upcoming Matches | Westfield Junior Matildas
Westfield Junior Matildas v IR Iran – 2019 AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Qualification (Round 2)
Date: Sunday, 3 March 2019
Venue: New Laos National Stadium, Vientiane, Laos
Kick-off: 3.00pm (local); 7.00pm (AEDT)
Vietnam v Westfield Junior Matildas – 2019 AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Qualification (Round 2)
Date: Tuesday, 5 March 2019
Venue: New Laos National Stadium, Vientiane, Laos
Kick-off: 3.00pm (local); 7.00pm (AEDT)
Westfield Junior Matildas v Laos – 2019 AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Qualification (Round 2)
Date: Thursday, 7 March 2019
Venue: New Laos National Stadium, Vientiane, Laos
Kick-off: 6.30pm (local); 10.30pm (AEDT)