Glory quartet in Matildas squad

Perth Glory quartet Collette McCallum, Kathryn Gill, Emma Wirkus and Samantha Kerr (photo) have been selected in a 29 strong squad for a four-day Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) training camp in Canberra which commences on Thursday.

Perth Glory Women’s Head Coach, John Gibson, is delighted to see so many of his talented players chosen for the training camp.

“All four of these girls have proved time and time again throughout the W-League season that they are class players and well worthy of their position in the Westfield Matilda’s training squad,” said Gibson.

“I wish them all the best at the camp, and will be hoping to see all four names on the final squad list to travel to China.”

Westfield Matildas head coach Tom Sermanni will be using the first camp of the year as an important part of the team’s preparations for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2010 which will be held in Chengdu, China between 19-30 May.

With the Westfield W-League having just ended it will be the first opportunity for Sermanni to work with his players, and he is hoping for a good camp. “It’s exciting to start up again for what is going to be a very important year for the team,” said Sermanni on the eve of the camp.

“These training camps over the next couple months will go a long way towards shaping the final squad in the lead up to the Asian Cup.”

“The big difference, in comparison to previous campaigns, is that the Westfield W-League has provided players a great opportunity to showcase their talents against their peers and players like Michelle Heyman and Teigen Allen have received their first call up the senior national women’s national team as a result.”

“It’s now up to each player to prove that they deserve to be in the final squad that will travel to China in May”, concluded Sermanni.

The Westfield Matildas have been drawn in Group B of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2010 along with host nation China, Vietnam and Korea Republic.

The AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2010 also serves as a qualifying competition for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup which will be held in Germany. Only the top three Asian teams from the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2010 will progress to the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Australia is currently ranked 14 in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings and fourth within the AFC.

Football Federation Australia would like to acknowledge the support of the Australian Institute of Sport for their ongoing funding for these training camps and the provision of scholarships to Australian Women’s National Football team players.

Westfield Matildas squad list

Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Training Camp, AIS Football Fields

14-17 January 2010

Teigen ALLEN (Sydney FC), Laura ALLEWAY (Melbourne Victory), Melissa BARBIERI (Melbourne Victory), Leah BLAYNEY (Central Connecticut State University, USA), Ellie BRUSH (Canberra United), Joanne BURGESS (Brisbane Roar), Tameka BUTT (Brisbane Roar), Lauren COLTHORPE (Brisbane Roar), Casey DUMONT (Brisbane Roar), Heather GARRIOCK (Sydney FC), Kathryn GILL (Perth Glory), Michelle HEYMAN (Central Coast Mariners), Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT (Brisbane Roar), Samantha KERR (Perth Glory), Leena KHAMIS (Sydney FC), Kylie LEDBROOK (Sydney FC), Aivi LUIK (Brisbane Roar), Collette McCALLUM (Perth Glory), Sian McLAREN (Adelaide United), Kate McSHEA (Brisbane Roar), Ellyse PERRY (Canberra United), Clare POLKIINGHORNE (Brisbane Roar), Karla REUTER (Brisbane Roar), Kyah SIMON (Sydney FC), Thea SLATYER (Canberra United), Emily VAN EGMOND (Canberra United), Sarah WALSH (Sydney FC), Lydia WILLIAMS (Canberra United) and Emma WIRKUS (Perth Glory).