Meet the Matildas: Defenders

After introducing the three Matildas goalkeepers, today The Women's Game move up the field and look at the defenders.

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Alanna Kenndy

Junior club: Macarthur Rams
Club: Sydney FC (W-League) and Orlando Pride (NWSL)
Birthday: 21/01/1995
Hometown: Campbelltown
Caps: 77
Previous World Cups: 2015
Did you know: Away from football she has an interest in photography

At just 24, this centre back is off to her second World Cup. While she generally plays in the centre of defence alongside Polkinghorne, Kennedy is a versatile player so could play any position on the pitch if need be.

She's set to be one of the top picks for the central defensive role when Ante Milicic selects his starting XI for the games at the World Cup.

Kennedy had a blistering season with Sydney FC in the W-League which saw her win the Championship but her NWSL side hasn't had the best start to the season despite her consistent performance.

Follow on: @alannakennedy (Instagram) and @AlannaKennedy (Twitter)

Ellie Carpenter

Club: Canberra United (W-League) and Portland Thorns (NWSL)
Birthday: 28/04/2000
Hometown: Cowra
Caps: 31
Previous World Cups: None
Did you know: She became the first player born in the 21st century to play for the national team

She came onto the W-League scene as a 15-year-old in 2015 and it's been one big ride since then.

Carpenter's 2018/19 season was a standout for the teenager as she tore up the right side of the pitch with her speed and also saw her receive the W-League's NAB Young Footballer of the Year for the second successive season.

With the Matildas, Carpenter has only improved with the more games she has under her belt and has started to make the right-back role her own.

View this post on Instagram

Beyond excited for my first World Cup! Can’t wait to give it everything and come up against the world’s best! Let’s gooooo🇦🇺💚💛 @thematildas

A post shared by Ellie Carpenter (@elliecarpenterr) on May 13, 2019 at 5:59pm PDT

Follow on: @elliecarpenterr (Instagram) and @CarpenterEllie (Twitter)

Teigen Allen

Junior club: Penrith Nepean United and NSWIS
Club: Melbourne Victory (W-League)
Birthday: 12/02/1994
Hometown: Sydney
Caps: 40
Previous World Cups: 2011
Did you know:

Allen earned her second W-League Premiership and was one of the standout performers in Melbourne Victory's run to the top of the ladder.

The 25-year-olds performance throughout the season saw Milicic give her a call up to the Matildas for the Cup of Nations earlier this year.

It had been a long time between national team call ups for Allen who made her Matildas debut as a 15-year-old in 2010. She played 90 minutes in a 3-0 win against Argentina.