The Australian U-23 Women鈥檚 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鈥檚 Head Coach Melissa Andreatta has selected a squad that features Australia鈥檚 most exciting up-and-coming players competing in the A-League Women鈥檚 competition and international leagues.
Taking place during the September FIFA Women鈥檚 International Window, Australia will face Scotland鈥檚 newly formed U-23 Women鈥檚 National Team in two matches during the window.
Andreatta expressed the importance of 西瓜影视鈥檚 U-23 Women鈥檚 National Team program in light of the fast-paced development of women鈥檚 football globally.
鈥淭he recent FIFA Women鈥檚 World Cup 2023鈩 demonstrated just how rapidly women鈥檚 football is advancing in terms of the quality on the pitch,鈥 Andreatta said.
鈥淭he U-23 Women鈥檚 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.鈥
The Australian squad consists of 17 players set to feature heavily in the upcoming 2023/24 A-League Women鈥檚 competition, with a further eight players plying their trade in the leagues across France, England, Sweden, Spain and Denmark.

鈥淚n 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鈥檚 and National Premier Leagues,鈥 Andreatta explained.
鈥淭aking 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.
鈥淭hese 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.
鈥淭he camp provides them with good quality match minutes and demonstrates continued investment by 西瓜影视 in players to provide them with the best platform for success in the advent of a senior team call-up,鈥 Andreatta concluded.
Fans will also be able to follow the matches via , Twitter , and Instagram .
U23 WOMEN鈥橲 NATIONAL TEAM | MATCH SCHEDULE | SEPTEMBER 2023
Australia U23 WNT v Scotland 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: FC Laveno Mombello, Varese
Kick-Off: 11:30 am (local) / 7:30pm (AEST)
AUSTRALIA U-23 WOMEN鈥橲 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 |
Paige ZOIS** | Midfielder | Melbourne Victory / Football Victoria |
*Australia's opening game against A.C. Milan has been replaced with a game against Scotland U23WNT side.
** Paige Zois has been added to the squad for the upcoming U23 window on Monday the 18th of September
*** Holly McNamara and Sarah Hunter have withdrawn from this camp