The Young Matildas have set up camp in Werribee and have been welcomed with open arms by the community

About 100 fans welcomed the Young Matildas to Werribee in an open training session at Galvin Park in Melbourne’s west

The Young Matildas have been given a heroes’ welcome in Werribee this week.

Players greeted fans after a training session at Galvin Park — home of Werribee City FC — where they will be based before jetting off to face Kyrgyz Republic, Guam and Iraq to earn a place in next year’s Asian Cup.

About 100 fans attended the 28-player squad’s opening training session on Wednesday.

Among the players vying for a place in the team is Western United’s Kahli Johnson.

Hosting the Young Matildas is another string to Wyndham’s women’s football advocacy, with the municipality also confirmed to be base of the Moroccan national team during this year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Wyndham councillor Peter Maynard said attracting a high standard of women’s football to the area will inspire future generations in the west.

“It’s a big year for women’s football in Wyndham, with this visit from the Young Matildas, Western United’s inaugural Liberty A-League season and the added thrill of hosting Africa’s second best team, the Moroccan Women’s National Team, this winter for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand,” he said.

“I look forward to our young footballers taking heart and being inspired to play at the elite level if that’s their sporting dream.”

The Young Matildas will also play friendlies against Western United and Melbourne City’s A-League Women’s sides.

A host of Matildas, including Ellie Carpenter and Hayley Raso, have risen up the ranks through the Young Matildas and gone on to make more than 50 senior international appearances.