A-League Women: The 20 NSW teen stars set to light up the competition
There are dynamic strikers, dominant defenders and midfield prodigies. Ahead of the A-League Women’s season, we’ve taken a look at 20 of the brightest prospects for NSW clubs.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
After the Matildas captured the imagination of the country with their wonderful run through the World Cup, football fans around Australia are gearing up for the most anticipated A-League Women’s season in recent history.
The new-look 12-team competition, which features the inclusion of the Central Coast Mariners, kicks off on Saturday October 14 when the new kids take on local rivals Newcastle Jets at home.
There will be plenty of star power on show, with the likes of World Cup heroes Cortnee Vine, Lydia Williams, Tameka Yallop and Kyah Simon – as well as a string of other regular Matildas players – all running around for local clubs.
While they will take most of the limelight, we’ve turned our attention to the next generation by focusing on some of the most talented teenagers lining up for NSW clubs.
Ahead of the season kick-off, find out who to keep an eye on.
Western Sydney Wanderers
India Breier
A new addition to the Wanderers for the 2023/24 season and making her A-Leagues debut, Breier comes into the team with a lot of experience in the NSW NPL.
The 17-year-old was part of the Macarthur Rams’ 2023 championship-winning team and has played and trained as part of the Junior Matildas.
She joins the red and black on a two-year deal.
Gemma Ferris
Ferris has been part of the Wanderers’ program since joining as a train-on player, eventually earning a scholarship contract last season.
The 19-year-old defender made her A-Leagues debut for the Wanderers in January during the 1-0 win over the Newcastle Jets and went on to feature in six matches throughout the rest of the season.
Ferris is likely to be featured off the bench for the upcoming season as she looks to build her performances.
Amy Chessari
Chessari made her ALW debut during the 2022/23 season, making 10 appearances for the red and black. She joined the side in late 2022 on a scholarship deal after participating in the U20s National Team training camp earlier that year.
Chessari rejoined the NSW NPL Women’s following the conclusion of the ALW season and helped the newly promoted Bulls FC Academy reach the grand final, where they eventually lost to the Macarthur Rams.
Alexia Apostolakis
Despite only being 17-years-old, Apostolakis is entering her third season in the A-Leagues.
She scored her first goal at 15 against the Newcastle Jets in 2022 and was named in the Australian under-23 Women’s Squad for their training camp in May this year.
The young defender is definitely one to watch throughout the upcoming season.
Sydney FC
Indiana Dos Santos
Indiana Dos Santos became the youngest player to ever debut in the A-Leagues (men’s or women’s) when she took to the field in Sydney FC’s 3-0 win over Western United in March this year aged just 15 and 117 days.
She scored her first goal just months later before featuring in the Sky Blues’ grand final win.
Dos Santos has been a consistent name in the Junior and Young Matildas camps and was part of the starting side for the Junior Matildas’ AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup qualification efforts in September.
The now 16-year-old remains with Sydney FC alongside older sister Jynaya.
Jynaya Dos Santos
The elder of the Dos Santos sisters, Jynaya only made one appearance for Sydney FC in the 2022/23 season due to national team duties.
She played a key role in Australia securing qualification for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup.
The 18-year-old started her footballing career with Shellharbour Junior Football Club, the same junior outfit as current Matilda Caitlin Foord.
Both Dos Santos sisters are expected to feature more prominently in the upcoming season.
Shay Hollman
Hollman comes from a family of top footballers, with brothers Jake and Corey both playing in the A-League Men’s with Macarthur FC and Sydney FC respectively.
She made her A-League Women’s debut as a 16-year-old during Sydney’s premiership-winning season in 2021/22 and made 15 appearances in the most recent season as her skills continue to improve.
The midfielder captained the under-18 Matildas to an ASEAN Football Federation Women’s Championship and was named Best Player as her team went undefeated to win the tournament.
Tahlia Franco
Franco made her debut with Sydney FC in January this year against Melbourne Victory when she replaced injured first-choice keeper Jada Whyman, with her performance between the sticks a pivotal reason behind the side’s 6-3 win.
The 17-year-old was selected as a member of the Junior Matildas’ squad that took out the AFF U18 Women’s tournament in 2022.
Although Franco will likely remain a back-up keeper for the upcoming season, she’ll be looking for any minutes on the field to continue to improve her skills.
Sienna Saveska
Saveska joins the Sky Blues on a two-year deal after making her ALW debut with the Wanderers in the 2022/23 season, recording one goal in her seven appearances for the side.
The 16-year-old midfielder has been a mainstay in the Young Matildas set-up, recently adding a goal in the U20 side’s Asian Cup round two qualifiers against Lebanon.
She has also earned praise from high places, with Sydney coach Ante Juric earmarking Saveska as a “star in the making”.
Zara Kruger
The latest addition to the Sky Blues, 17-year-old Zara Kruger signed with Sydney in September, transferring from Brisbane Roar where she made 10 ALW appearances in the 2022/23 season.
The attacking midfielder’s move to Sydney caps off a big journey from Warwick, where she started her football journey in the under-7s.
Kruger also has experience with the Young Matildas, making an impact during the U20 Pacific Women’s Four Nations Tournament.
Central Coast Mariners
Maya Lobo
The 17-year-old defender comes into her inaugural A-Leagues campaign after a strong season for the Macarthur Rams in the NSW NPLW.
A smart footballer and strong defender, the Young Matildas representative is a good distributor of the ball and is highly touted within Australian football circles.
Tess Quilligan
A rock in the middle of the park, Quilligan is cool on the ball and is a good distributor across the park.
A standout for Sydney University in the NPL, the 18-year-old will add plenty of depth to the Mariners’ squad and will be looking to make the step up to A-League level.
Annalise Rasmussen
A hugely symbolic signing, the 18-year-old longtime academy product was the first player to sign the dotted line for the Mariners in what is the club’s readmission into the top-flight of Australian women’s football after a 14-year hiatus.
A skilful and dangerous attacking player, Rasmussen went viral and caught the attention of football fans earlier this year with a brilliant 30m strike against Hills United in the NSW League One competition.
Peta Trimis
Another Young Matilda, Trimis is a versatile footballer most at home in defence who joins the club from the Northbridge Bulls in the NPLW.
With plenty of speed and good technical skills on the ball, the 17-year-old will have her eyes on first team action for the Mariners this season.
Newcastle Jets
Josie Allan
The 17-year-old attacker is one of a string of local juniors to progress from the club’s academy to A-League squad in recent years.
Quick, dynamic and with plenty of X-factor, Allan collected the Cheryl Salisbury Award for being the most committed performer both on and off the pitch last season and will be hoping to put her stamp on the 2023/24 campaign with the Jets.
Claudia Cicco
A new recruit this season from the Wellington Phoenix, the 19-year-old brings plenty of flexibility to the Jets, with the ability to play as a centre-back, wingback, winger and even striker.
After impressing for the Nix last season, Cicco was selected in the Young Matildas squad earlier this year, where she scored a hat-trick in an under-20s Asian Cup qualifier against Guam.
Emma Dundas
The young midfielder will play her first season in the ALW after graduating from the club’s academy on the back of a campaign that saw her crowned the Emerging Jets player of the year.
Fleet-footed and good on the ball, Dundas made her debut for the Junior Matildas in September’s under-17 Asian Cup qualifying win against Vietnam and will be hoping for plenty more minutes in the gold of both Australia and the Jets over the coming season.
Lara Gooch
Still just 17 years old, Gooch is one of the most exciting local prospects to come through the club’s ranks in recent years.
With blistering pace and strong technical ability on the ball, she caused plenty of havoc off the bench towards the end of last season and duly won the Jets’ Women’s Rising Star Award.
With a whole pre-season behind her, Gooch will be looking to take her game to the next level in the upcoming campaign.
Milan Hammond
Another local product, Hammond has returned to her hometown club after spending last season with Perth Glory.
A dynamic striker who can be lethal in front of goal, the 19-year-old will be hoping to make a big splash in front of friends and family.
Zoe Karipidis
A graduate from the Jets’ academy, the defender will make the step-up to professional football for the first time this season.
With experience in the Young Matildas set-up under her belt, Karipidis will be looking to continue her development and taste her first minutes of A-League football over the course of the campaign.
Latrell brilliance guides Walgett to back-to-back Koori Knockout wins
Walgett boasted a star studded side with a former Dally M winner, but it’s an incoming Brisbane Broncos recruit that made the most noise as WAC made it back-to-back Koori Knockout wins.
Revealed: QLD All Schools Touch top performers
The world’s largest touch football tournament has wrapped up on the Gold Coast after five days of competition across seven divisions. Discover who claimed gold, and the 80+ standouts across the board. Details inside: