SEQ’s top soccer schoolgirls glimpsed here
Are these Queensland youth footballers Magic Matildas of the future? Here are 60 of the best SEQ talents aspiring to be the next Sam Kerr or Mary Fowler.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Matildas Magic has swept the nation, shining a searchlight on the nation’s premier female footballers.
The likes of Sam Kerr, Hayley Raso, Mary Fowler and Ellie Carpenter were the stars of today – but what about the future?
Here we reveal the best female youth players from the South East Queensland region, young stars of the round ball code.
Tully Heatley
Club/school: QAS, Kelvin Grove State College
Position: Midfielder
A Future Matildas select, Heatley is renowned for her silky skills, someone with great vision who is all the while hard working. She is a respectful young woman.
An Edge Hill United junior from FNQ, she was recently selected for the under 18 Queensland schoolgirls team.
Jonti Fisher
Club/school: QAS, Kelvin Grove State College
Position: Winger or midfielder
The versatile Fisher is a focused youth player who is a part of the Future Matildas squad.
She is a great finisher and extremely hard working. She has made the Australian under 18 Women’s Championship team and also made this year’s Qld schoolgirls under 18s.
Shelby McMahon
Club/School” Gold Coast Knights, Southport SHS
Position: Centre, midfield
A Junior Matilda squad member and Australian under 17 select, McMahon is athletic, has speed and is technically very sound. She is also a respectful student who has a positive influence on her peers. The humble McMahon with a high work ethic is also a renowned goal scorer and creator of attacking raids.
Charlie Gibson
Brisbane Roar
Position: central defender and fullback
The winner of the esteemed 2022 Sue Monteath Award for 2022 FQ Academy QAS Player of the Year, the Mt St Michael’s old girl made her debut for the Junior Matildas at the AFF U18 Women’s Championship in Indonesia.
Renowned for her perseverance, the Mitchelton FC junior is a member of the Brisbane Roar Womens A League squad.
Ella O’Grady
Club: QAS
Position: Attacker
A Future Matildas class of 2023 scholarship winner, the Wynnum Wolves FC junior is a terrific forward who has been named in the Queensland schoolgirls under 18 side.
She is one of Queensland’s most exciting prospects, having represented the CommBank Junior Matildas squad at the Asean Football Federation (AFF) U18 Women’s Championship in 2022.
Zara Kruger
Club, school: Lions FC, QAS, Scots College, Warwick
Position: Forward
Polished by Junior Matilda training camps, Kruger was awarded a scholarship for the initial Future Matildas class of 2023.
Chloe Parker
Club or school: Narangba Valley State High School
Position: Defender
The Sunshine Coast rising star has been selected in the CommBank Junior Matildas squad to compete at the 2024 AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers.
Margaret Barrett
Club: QAS, Western Pride
Position: Forward
The Junior Matildas player rose from the Western Pride after coming through QAS systems since the under 13s in 2018.
Daisy Brown
Club. school: Brisbane City/QAS
Position: Forward
A 2022 Junior Matildas AFF under 18 Women’s Championship team member, she was identified by QAS scouts as early as the under 13 age group and continues to go from strength to strength.
Isabella Hoyos
School: St Augustine’s College, Springfield Lakes
Position: Defender
A CommBank Junior Matildas squad invitee for 2024, the Australian under 17 Women’s Asian Cup representative is a white hot talent on the pitch – and highly respected off it.
Last year she was awarded Football Queensland’s under 14s QAS Standards and Behaviours Award. She hails from the same district – Springfield – as another renowned good sport, retired tennis legend Ash Barty.
Ellen Gett
Club: QAS
Position: Midfield, forward
A QAS captain and Young Matildas training camp member, Stuartholme School old girl Gett is a renowned leader who made it into the Brisbane Roar’s top squad.
Stella Campbell
Position: Goalkeeper
Campbell is a member of the CommBank Junior Matildas training toward the 2024 AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers and there is little wonder why.
The goalkeeper is dominant, and a game-saver.
Grace Kuilamu
School: QAS, Souths United, Brisbane State High School
Position: Forward
The young striker is a versatile attacking player who can also swing to win. She grew up playing against the boys and was first identified at a school carnival in Wide Bay in 2017, joining the QAS program from Souths United in 2019.
She is a member of the CommBank Junior Matildas squad 2024 and was named the 2022 QAS under 16 Players’ Player Award winner.
MacKenzie Nielson
Club, school: QAS, Kelvin Grove State College alumni
There’s little wonder why Nielson is so good when she has been honing her skills at Kelvin Grove.
Nielsen has Junior Matilda experience, and is elite with a capital E.
Aleeah Daverne
Club: Brisbane Roar
Position: Midfielder
Originally from sporting rich Cairns, the fluent midfielder with a big motor has had her skills polished under the watchful QAS system, making the youth Matildas side.
After moving from North Queensland, she finished her schooling at sporting rich Marsden SHS.
Alyssa Borodin
Club, school: QAS
Position: Midfielder
Winner of the 2022 Football Queensland’s under 15 Players’ Player Award, Borodin is a member of the CommBank Junior Matildas training toward the U-17 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers.
Sarah Bonifant
Club: Lions FC
Bonifant is a 2023 Queensland Schoolgirls representative and a futsal gun who has a knack for scoring.
Sian Costigan
School: Ipswich Girls Grammar School
Costigan, a Year 12 student at Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School, is a Queensland Schoolgirl and Queensland state representative in the elite QAS pathway system.
Chelsea Fairbairn
Club: QAS, Capabala FC
After two years of impressive form for Capabala FC Fairbairn was invited to trial, then was later selected in the QAS program. She hasn’t slowed down as proven by her Queensland selection for last year’s NTC Challenge.
Don’t forget she is a Queensland Schoolgirls representative.
Steph Hallas
Club: Moreton Bay United
Position: Forward
The Queensland Schoolgirl is a Moreton Bay United forward who would have to be one of the best strikers going around in Brisbane.
The Jets would not trade her for anyone in their FQPL1 set up.
Mia Bailey
Club: Brisbane Roar
Position: Goalkeeper
A Cairns local and JCU Strikers junior, Bailey made her NPL debut aged just 15 and her professional debut with the Brisbane Roar in 2021.
The Cavendish Road State High School alumni is a past Sue Monteath award for the QAS Player of the Year recipient.
Lilly Simpson
School: Narangba Valley SHS
Position: Forward
Named the 2022 Football Queensland U14s Players’ Player Award recipient for the season, Simpson is brimming with talent and was in the Australian squad that played in the Group B 2024 AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup Round Qualifiers held in Mongolia earlier
Majellah Cedric
Club, school: Souths Utd; Marsden SHS
Position: Midfielder or Forward
A terrific athlete, Cedric has acceleration, technical skills and a high work ethic. She is a genuine goal scorer. Cedric makes her teammates better players.
Khelistar Kumitau
Club or school: Olympic FC; Marsden SHS
Position: Midfielder or Defender
Technically elite, she is two footed, quick, composed and renowned for being an unselfish player.
She has a high work ethic, is very good at defending one-on-one, and has an ability to read the game.
Holly Bonertz-Benn
Club, school: QAS, Kelvin Grove State College
Position: Midfielder
The QAS women's schoolgirl ace is a great finisher and composed passer who has a high football IQ.
She is a Queensland schoolgirls under 18 side selection.
Kate Bonertz-Benn
Club, school: QAS, Kelvin Grove State College
Position: Fullback
Hard working and super fit, Bonertz-Benn can run all day.
The 2023 Queensland schoolgirls selection has a great delivery into the box.
Daisey Bateman
Club: QAS Womens/Kelvin Grove State College
Position: Winger/fullback
Smart with great skills, Bateman is an elite finisher who is very respectful among her peers.
Xiana Ludwig
Club/school QAS, Kelvin Grove State College
Position: Midfielder
An admirer of Matildas star Mary Fowler, Ludwig is one of the younger members of our list.
The QAS under 14 select has a big motor – and it is not surprising given her cross country and athletic background. She is a real natural football talent, gifted but a hard worker. Ludwig has vision on the football pitch.
Violet McKee
Club: QAS, Kelvin Grove State College
Position: Centre Back
Yet another from the Kelvin Grove State College Football Excellent program, McKee is calm in a crisis, strong with good vision. She is a respectful young woman among her teammates.
She made the Football Queensland Academy under 18 Girls National Training Centre girls state side which competed at the National Challenge last month, and also made the Queensland schoolgirls under 18 side.
Hayley Campbell
Club, school: QAS under 15s, Kelvin Grove State College
Position: Centre Back
Campbell is a wonderful passer, a dream teammate of players given her ability to deliver the goods.
She is calm and a renowned strong player.
Issy Anderson
Club: Brisbane City under 23 women's
Position: Midfielder
Anderson is a great touch footballer with terrific vision. She also works hard on and off the pitch to improve herself.
Ashleigh Adamson
Club, school Palm Beach Currumbin SHS
Position: Attacking midfielder
The attacking midfielder that has the ability to unlock defences and score important goals.
She was recently named in the under 19 Queensland schoolgirls team.
Amali Kinsella
Club or school: QAS, Beerwah State High School
Position: Unknown
The QAS academy member attended last year’s Junior Matildas training camp which followed on from her Queensland Schoolgirls and Queensland Under 18s National Training Centre Girls side selection.
Chloe Murray
Club or School: Sunshine Coast Wanderers, Sunshine Beach State High School
Position: Unknown
At the age of 15 Murray had been selected to represent the Sunshine Coast women’s under 23s side in the NPL competition. All you need to know about Murray is here.
Rosie McMahon
Club or school: QAS, Matthew Flinders Anglican College
Position: Midfield
The young star has already donned the green and gold jersey for the junior U17 Matildas after top string performances for the QAS under 15 girls team in the NPL Women’s U23 competition.
McMahon, who has also played cricket at a state level, is certainly one to keep an eye on for years to come.
Read more here.
Mia Green
Club or School: Brisbane City, Redcliffe State High School
Position: Midfield
The Redcliffe youngster has been on many coaches and club radars for a few years now as she continues to overcome whatever challenges are placed in front of her.
Green has indeed been called into a Matildas under 17s squad in the past and at just 16. She is also a Qld schoolgirls selection for this season.
Amber Faherty
Club or School: QAS, Kawana Waters State College
Position: Midfield
A strong and demanding player in the centre midfield, Faherty has starred for Queensland at the Youth Nationals and in the futsal arena.
She is a technically gifted player and can escape high pressure situations using her sublime ball skills – and her Queensland Maroon Under 14s selection is proof of her talent.
Abbie Lutton
Club or School: Sunshine Coast Fire, Kawana Waters State College
Position: Midfield
Lutton is another Sunshine Coast junior that is soaring in the junior divisions but has also stamped her feet in the senior divisions. Her vision on and off the ball as a defensive midfielder has allowed her to excel and is not afraid of going toe-to-toe with the opposition. Only 14 but is a true rising star, Lutton is the perfect number six who could be a Matilda if she continues on this trajectory.
Lanni McDougall
Club: Brisbane Roar
Position: midfield
McDougall has soared ahead to play for the Brisbane Roar after impressing for her junior club Moreton Bay United.
Molly McLennan
Club: Gold Coast United
Position: Centre midfield
With lovely deft touches, the former Queensland Opens Schoolgirls Team selection can unlock defences.
Sierra McCaffrey
Club: QAS
Position: Centre back or mid
A Kelvin Grove State College product, she is a natural talent who, believe it or not, can nail outrageous goals from around halfway.
Maddison Teakle
Club: Lions
Position: Defender
A Harristown SHS product who has now left school, the 19-year-old year has been a Queensland representative throughout her junior days.
Hayley Campbell
Position: Centre Back
Club: QAS U15
Campbell is strong and calm on the ball and can pass like the best of them.
Issy Anderson
Position: Midfielder
Club: Brisbane City U23/Womens
She has a great touch, good vision, is a hard worker and most of all she is respectful.
Sonali Singh
School: BSHS
FQ Academy QAS
A Lions FC junior, Singh is an exciting talent who has made the Queensland Schoolgirls with schoolmate Ari Skeers.
Ari Skeers
Club: Lions FC
School: BSHS
The Queensland Schoolgirls representative who last month secured third place for Samoa with two goals in their playoff match against the Cook Islands at the Under 19s Women’s Championships.
The Year 11 Brisbane State High student is fearless with a lionsheart.
Sara Solomon
Club: Camden Tigers FC
Solomon is a 2023 south coast Queensland Schoolgirls representative which includes players such as Sarah Bonifant and Violet McKee.
The Gold Coast product can play both football and futsal at the highest level.
Anjelina Ujdur
Club: south coast Gold Coast United
Position: Attacking-midfield
The Queensland schoolgirls under 18s select who may not be a Matilda but she has every chance of being a New Zealand international after she impressed at an Under 17s World Cup training camp in Cambridge (New Zealand) early last year.
She knows how to find the back of the net better than anyone.
She has fantastic strength and is in her element with the ball at her feet.
A fierce competitor
Lauren Vaschina
Club: QAS
Like many others on this list, QAS member Vaschina was elected in Queensland’s NTC Challenge squad last year. She is also a talented equestrian athlete from the Downs.
Sarah Birchall
Club: QAS, BSHS
Birchall is an all-rounder sportswoman, now specialising in football. She has helped BSHS to two premierships with the Open team, and helped them to the state championship Bill Turner Cup title.
Outside of school, Birchall plays in the WNPL with Olympic, was a part of the QAS team in 2021, and was short-listed for the Junior Matildas.
A talented athlete and true leader.
Sarah O’Donoghue
Club: Alemein Football Club
The Queensland schoolgirls under 18 team select who was named the QAS under 17 Players’ Player Award winner for 2022.
A QAS player, O’Donoghue took part in the Junior Matildas training camp last year, and this year earned a scholarship in the Future Matildas Program. She currently plays for the Alemein Football Club in Victoria.
Kira Richards-Bassett
Club/school: Gold Coast United
Position: Wing
The 17-year-old midfielder is a scorer, exciting and brimming with potential.
She was of course the youngest player (15 years) to debut for the Gold Coast United Women’s team.
Tia Appoo
Club/school: Lions FC
Position: Forward
The Bundamba State Secondary College old girl who as a Year 11 made the Queensland School Sport under 19s football team. Now with the Lions FC, Appoo was indeed a Queensland shadow player at the NTC Challenge.
Kaitlin McCormack
Club: QAS
Position: Goal keeper
The QAS Academy member was selected in the U16s Queensland Maroon squad in 2022 for the National Youth Championships and later that year received the Goalkeepers award at FQ’s awards night.
But she is also a freakish futsal player who represented Queensland’s Under 17s side at the National Futsal Championships in January.
Macey Edwards
Club: Lions FC
Position: Forward
The 18-year-old Lions FC forward who was once a Sunshine Coast Wanderer and budding Futsal talent where she represented Queensland in 2020.
She joined Lions FC teammate Zara Kruger in the Queensland team at this year’s U18s National Training Centre Challenge in Victoria.
Georgie Dean
Club: QAS
School: Stretton State College
Dean has long been a highlight reel footballer and the proof is in the pudding. That pudding would be her selection in the QAS program which came as early as 13.
Halle Nielsen
Club: QAS
A Darling Downs junior, Nielson is a high achiever within the QAS and last year was awarded the prestigious Standards and Behaviours Award winner for 2022 in the under 17 age group.
Darcy Heffernan
Club: QAS
The Gold Coast United junior is mixing it with the best of them within the QAS, and last year claimed the QAS Standards and Behaviours Award, a significant achievement given the quality of young Queensland footballers.
From the Darling Downs, aside from Zara Kruger and Maddison Teakle, comes:
Charlotte Weinand.
Age: 17
Position: Centre back.
The Thunder under-17s skipper leads through her action and words. Her ability to read the game combined with her ball distribution makes her an unstoppable force in the backline. Weinand does her best work at the back but can slot in anywhere on the field and was recently selected as a QLD shadow player at the U19 State titles.
Charlie Botham
Age: 16
Position: Centre midfield, winger or striker.
Can and will get the job done anywhere on the field thanks to her great skillset. Her ability to read the game and know when to push forward in attack makes her a huge threat to opponents. With great footwork, ball distribution and the ability to hit the back of the net, Charlie is one of the Darling Downs best attackers regardless of age.
Ashlee Parravicini
Age: 17
Position: Centre back.
Ashlee has not only established herself as a top player in the Thunder senior women’s team, but she is no doubt one of the best centre back’s in the FQPL competition. Her ball distribution and 1v1 defensive skills are second to none and she is an integral part of the senior ladies team.
Macey Eiser
Age: 17
Position: right back or right wing
Macey’s tenacity in defence has earnt her a regular starting spot for the in the SWQ Thunder senior women’s team. Her ability to create space and her overlapping runs makes her a threat in attack and her determination to chase her opponent’s in defence make her an integral part of the backline.
Sienna Williams
Age: 17
Position: Left back
A brilliant two-way player who will chase down her opposite number and then almost immediately turn back into attack and bomb down the left edge.Williams times her runs perfectly and patiently waits for her opportunity in attack before striking in the blink of an eye.
Other outstanding young Queensland female footballers who represented Queensland so far this decade from the SEQ include: Eloise Hopwood Moreton Bay United, a Grace Lutheran College student who still plays football for Moreton Bay United and was recently selected from school futsal to represent Australia.
Then there is Sophie Holbeck QAS, Sunshine Rutch, QAS, Sophie Wood, QAS, Jade Uhlmann, QAS, Zara Stone, Moreton Bay United, Georgia Dean, QAS, Macey Edward, Sunshine Coast Wanderers, Mia Vie, QAS, Emelia Meli, QAS, Heidi Dennis, QAS, Kiera Godeby, QAS, Emily Clark, Logan Lightning, Tamar Levin, QAS, Tonia-Marie Rantucci, Olympic, Morgan Stanton, QAS, Dani Casey Poila, QAS, Lila Falchetti, QAS, Ashlee Hummel Brisbane City, Layla Adams, Gold Coast United, Katie Sherar, Peninsula Power, Libby Latimer, QAS, Cleo Trevett-Lyall, QAS, Emily Clark (GK), Lions FC, Chloe Parker, QAS, Charlie Shanahan, Sunshine Coast Wanderers, Halle Trevett-Lyall, QAS, Marli Danger, QAS, Emily Haines, QAS, Ashley Lam, QAS, Mia Gleeson, QAS, Lilli Dunn, QAS, Ciara Evans, QAS, Arabella Ryan, QAS, Greta Howard, QAS, Mackenna Magill, QAS, Amber Faherty, QAS, Rosie McMahon, QAS, Olivia Morris, Moreton Bay United, Lily Simpson, QAS, Lily Punch, QAS, Shayla Williams, QAS, Emily Doring, QAS, Alyssa O’Grady, QAS, Sophie King, QAS, Michaela Foster, QAS, Kayla Murcutt, QAS, Mia Afoa, Moreton Bay United, Huntah Wilson, QAS, Georgie Zerbst, Gold Coast United, Jesse Levenson, Sunshine Coast Wanderers
Footnote 2: Our story mainly concentrated on the 16-18 players some under 15s, but we’d like to mention Rani Sharma who last year won the QAS under 13 Players Player award for her season efforts, along with fellow award winners Arabella Ryan (QAS under 13 Standards and Behaviours Award winner).
More Coverage
Originally published as SEQ’s top soccer schoolgirls glimpsed here
GPS First XV: A player who hit more sixes than fours makes Team of the Week
GPS First XI cricket Team of the Week: The round 2 team includes a player who hit more sixes than fours, a Year 10 rookie from a losing side and a Gremlins’ junior from the bush.
‘We did it’: Philly honeymooners’ epic Super Bowl celebration
A pair of Philadelphia honeymooners had double the reason to cheer as they watched the Eagles win the Superbowl 40-22 at an epic Gold Coast bash. WATCH THEIR CELEBRATIONS