Matildas stars to miss Victoria friendlies as monster 36-strong squad named

Matildas coach Tom Sermanni has named an extended 36 player squad for their upcoming friendlies, but Victorian fans are set to miss out in a big way. Here’s why.

Cortnee Vine has been a mystery absentee from recent Matildas squads. Picture: Getty

Victorian fans will be denied the chance to see their favourite Matildas players next month after Australia named a bumper 36-strong squad for the four international friendlies to cover the European-based players who will all be sent home after just two games in Queensland.

The overseas based players including captain Steph Catley, Mary Fowler, Caitlin Foord, Alanna Kennedy, Ellie Carpenter and Katrina Gorry will be back on a plane after playing the second clash with Brazil on the Gold Coast on December 1.

Rulings by their European clubs has prevented interim coach Tom Sermanni from including the high profile stars in his plans for the games in Melbourne (December 4) and Geelong (December 7), leaving him no option but to use a virtual A-League’s Women’s all stars squad for the clashes against Chinese Taipei.

Mary Fowler will return to Manchester City after the friendly on the Gold Coast. Picture: Getty Images

It comes as Sermanni predicts a January return for super striker Sam Kerr. The Matildas star striker has been off the pitch since rupturing her ACL in January.

“Everything is on track,” Sermanni said.

“She is potentially looking at January at this stage, it’s a good thing for her to take as much time as possible to make sure that she’s fully healed and prepared to come back rather than try to come back a little earlier.”

Sam Kerr’s return isn’t too far away. Picture: Getty Images

The core Matildas players aren’t making an early exit from the national camp by choice.

FIFA’s rules around this international window mean only Asian countries had the option of playing four games in 10 days.

European countries have a shorter window with domestic matches resuming on December 8 - the day following the final game with Chinese Taipei.

Unfortunately for the Matildas it means their powerful European clubs have all demanded Australia’s overseas based players, with the exception of Emily van Egmond who is based in the USA’s NWSL, must return home to prepare for crucial club matches.

Sermanni said the bumper squad was the only way to ensure he had enough players to fill squads for all four games.

The squad includes 16 ALW players which Sermanni has personally scouted. It will likely cause a headache for a number of clubs with the domestic competition playing through the international window.

Being based in Australia meant Sermanni was able to get along to the opening two rounds.

Having previously worked with Western Sydney Wanderers Sermanni was not surprised by the level of talent lurking in the league.

The squad includes a number of players returning to the Matildas squad such as Chloe Logarzo, Alex Chidiac and Emily Gielnik.

Kaitlyn Torpey will be absent due to a hamstring injury and star winger Cortnee Vine is once again absent.

Cortnee Vine is once again a surprise absentee from the Matildas’ squad. Picture: Getty

The World Cup hero withdrew herself from the last window citing personal reasons and has played limited minutes with her new NWSL club North Carolina Courage.

Sermanni said Vine was not injured.

“I think she just wants a little bit of time at the minute,” Sermanni said.

“She doesn’t feel ready to come into the national team environment just right at this time, but she’s in a good space.”

Young Matildas captain Jessika Nash, Isobel Gomez, Chloe Lincoln, Hana Lowry, Natasha Prior and Morgan Aquino are also named in the squad.

“It’s been good to get along to the A-League matches but to watch it with a real purpose of looking at players that you think are going to be good enough or deserve a chance to be brought into the Matildas squad,” Sermanni said.

While it might seem strange - an interim coach looking at potential future players - to Sermanni he is only an interim coach in title.

“I’ve not come in for a holiday,” Sermanni said.

“I’ve come into the job and I said this to the group in our very first meeting with the exact same attitude as I would come into the job had I been given a two, four, six or 10 year contract.

“That’s my job right at the moment is to coach the Matildas so I don’t walk in there saying I’m an interim coach - I’ll do everything I would have done had I been the permanent coach.”

Sermanni said the clashes against Chinese Taipei would be far from experimental.

“There will be different players in the teams, but I want to look at it as a national team, there will just be different players that are going to be getting some opportunities,” he said.

“We go into it with the same purpose - firstly to look at players and secondly to win games.”

Hayley Raso is one of 36 players in a monster squad announcement from the Matildas. Picture: Getty Images

FULL SQUAD

Morgan Aquino, Mackenzie Arnold, Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley (captain), Alex Chidiac, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Leah Davidson, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Sharn Freier, Daniela Galic, Emily Gielnik, Isabel Gomez, Katrina Gorry, Charlotte Grant, Winonah Heatley, Bryleeh Henry, Michelle Heyman, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Chloe Lincoln, Chloe Logarzo, Hana Lowry, Matilda McNamara, Teagan Micah, Jessika Nash, Courtney Nevin, Clare Polkinghorne, Natasha Prior, Hayley Raso, Jamilla Rankin, Karly Roestbakken, Remy Siemsen, Emily Van Egmond, Clare Wheeler, Tameka Yallop

GAME DATES:

Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium): Matildas vs Brazil, Thursday November 28, kick off: 9pm (AEDT)

Gold Coast (Cbus Stadium): Matildas vs Brazil, Sunday December 1, kick off: 7.35pm (AEDT)

Melbourne (AAMI Park): Matildas vs Chinese Taipei, December 4, kick off 8pm (AEDT)

Geelong (GMHBA Stadium): Matildas vs Chinese Taipei, December 7, kick off 7.30pm (AEDT)

Originally published as Matildas stars to miss Victoria friendlies as monster 36-strong squad named