Australian based players converge for Matildas camp

Ahead of the Tournament of Nations to be held later this month, Matildas Head Coach Alen Stajcic has called up 18 Australian based players for a 4 day camp at the Australian Institute of Sport.

The camp features several senior Matildas currently playing in local Australian leagues, home from overseas leagues or recovering from injury, as well as seven "Generation Next" players either with the Junior Matildas or Young Matildas.

“We’ve got 18 players playing overseas so this camp is a good opportunity to bring some local players in who have been on the fringe and let them experience the environment and demands of national team camp,” said Stajcic.

“Having them be able to train and mix it with some of the more senior players is really beneficial as it is part of the strategy of evolving our team culture and improving our leadership within the group.”

Matildas co-captains Lisa De Vanna and Clare Polkinghorne are joined by the likes of Emily van Egmond, Mackenzie Arnold and Michelle Heyman alongside several current and former youth representatives.

Former Young Matildas goalkeeper Eliza Campbell has been invited into senior camp while U17 representatives Kyra Cooney-Cross and Alyssa Rose flew in for their first look at the senior environment.

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They are joined by a contingent of Young Matildas including Ellie Carpenter, Alex Chidiac, Princess Ibini, Grace Maher, Karly Roestbakken and Remy Siemsen who are currently concluding a three match international series against Canada and the United States.

The camp is Australia's first ahead of the Tournament of Nations with the final squad to be announced on Monday, 17 July for a 21 July departure.

The Australian based players will meet up with their Asian, European and American counterparts on the West Coast of the United States for a short pre-tournament camp before taking on the United States, Japan and Brazil.