Matildas 20 play 2016 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifiers squad revealed

Australian head coach Alen Stajcic has selected 20 players for the 2016 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifiers to be held from 29 February 2016 to 9 March 2016 in Osaka, Japan.

“It was very difficult. It’s the first time we’ve had a major tournament in this time of the year so it added a lot of complexity to preparing and selecting the team,” said Stajcic.

“Having the W-League in between and still trying to manage the national team was a pretty big balancing act and I think credit should go to the players and the W-League clubs as well, we did a pretty good job navigating our way to not interfere too much but still being able to keep up the momentum of the national team.”

Stajcic has selected with three goalkeepers, 5 defenders, 6 midfielders and 6 forwards but his preference for versatility means several players have the ability to play in different positions and formations.

The squad includes 16 members of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup squad and with four players - Caitlin Cooper, Emily Gielnik, Chloe Logarzo, Aivi Luik - impressing in Season 8 to earn selection. Goalkeeper Casey Dumont recovers from an ACL to make her way into the squad as the third goalkeeper.

“Emily Gielnik had a good W-League season and has been impressive when she has come into camp adding a good bit of pace and power to our front line,” said Stajcic.

“Caitlin Cooper is another who has come into the squad and performed really well in our preparations, while Casey Dumont has come back from her knee reconstruction. She’s still got a bit of a way to go to regain full fitness but she has certainly worked hard over the past three months to get back into the squad.”

One of the big omissions is forward Sam Kerr, who was unable to rehab in time from a ruptured foot ligament suffered early in the 2015/16 W-League season.

“We’ve been monitoring Sam’s recovery and she’s only been out of the moon boot for a couple of weeks so it was always going to be touch and go, but with the short turnaround between matches it was not worth taking the risk. Hopefully we qualify and she can put her hand up and be available for selection for Rio.”

A top-two finish in the tournament would see Australia join Brazil, Colombia, France, Germany, South Africa, Zimbabwe and New Zealand in qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics this August.

It would be the first time Australia would have qualified for the Olympics through the AFC and their third appearance in the tournament with the last being at Athens 2004.

The Matildas squad have been in their final Australian camp since Monday and will complete their Australian preparations with a practice match against the Illawarra Stingrays on Friday at WIN Stadium.

The team and staff will then depart for a week long camp in Osaka, Japan on Monday, 22 February.

Australia commences their Olympic Qualifying campaign against Japan on Monday, 29 February 2016 at 9:35 p.m. AEDT.

Follow The Women's Game on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for coverage leading up to and throughout the tournament.

Australia - 2016 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifiers Squad (by position)

Goalkeepers: Lydia Williams, Mackenzie Arnold, Casey Dumont

Defenders: Clare Polkinghorne, Laura Alleway, Steph Catley, Alanna Kennedy, Caitlin Cooper

Midfielders: Elise Kellond-Knight, Emily van Egmond, Tameka Butt, Katrina Gorry, Aivi Luik, Chloe Logarzo

Forwards: Larissa Crummer, Lisa De Vanna, Kyah Simon, Michelle Heyman, Emily Gielnik

Australia - 2016 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifiers Squad

Number	Name	Date of Birth	Position	Club	A International Caps (Goals)
1	Lydia Williams	13/05/1988	Goalkeeper	Canberra United	49 (0)
2	Larissa Crummer	10/01/1996	Forward	Melbourne City FC	9 (1)
3	Caitlin Cooper	12/02/1988	Defender	WS Wanderers FC	3 (1)
4	Clare Polkinghorne	1/02/1989	Defender	Brisbane Roar	80 (5)
5	Laura Alleway	28/11/1989	Defender	Melbourne City FC	39 (2)
6	Chloe Logarzo	22/12/1994	Midfielder	Newcastle Jets	3 (0)
7	Stephanie Catley	26/01/1994	Defender	Melbourne City FC	42 (2)
8	Elise Kellond-Knight	10/08/1990	Midfielder	Potsdam FC, Germany	64 (1)
9	Caitlin Foord	11/11/1994	Forward	Perth Glory	28 (3)
10	Emily van Egmond	12/07/1993	Midfielder	FFC Frankfurt	47 (11)
11	Lisa De Vanna	14/11/1984	Forward	Melbourne City FC	106 (37)
12	Casey Dumont	25/01/1992	Goalkeeper	-	1 (0)
13	Tameka Butt	16/06/1991	Midfielder	Brisbane Roar	52 (7)
14	Alanna Kennedy	21/01/1995	Defender	Sydney FC	37 (0)
15	Emily Gielnik	13/05/1992	Forward	Brisbane Roar	7 (0)
16	Michelle Heyman	4/07/1988	Forward	Canberra United	41 (15)
17	Kyah Simon	25/06/1991	Forward	Sydney FC	58 (15)
18	Mackenzie Arnold	25/02/1994	Goalkeeper	Perth Glory	7 (0)
19	Katrina Gorry	13/08/1992	Midfielder	Brisbane Roar	38 (11)
20	Aivi Luik	18/03/1985	Midfielder	Melbourne City FC	16 (0)