Grant and Hodgson selected for Westfield Young Matildas for AFC U-19 Women’s Championship

Football South Australia is pleased to learn that two NTC graduates have been named in Australia’s 23-player squad for the forthcoming AFC U-19 Women’s Championship, which will be held in Chonburi, Thailand.

Westfield Young Matildas Head Coach Leah Blayney has named Charlotte Grant and Emily Hodgson in her squad, which travels to South-East Asia next week ahead of Group A games against DPR Korea (October 27), Thailand (October 30), and Vietnam (November 2).

Hodgson, who has played in the Women's National Premier League with West Adelaide, is positive ahead of the tournament. 

I am honoured to be selected for the team and looking forward to the tournament. I think we have a good chance of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup.

Charlotte Grant, who has this year played full time in the Future Matilda's Program is extremely proud to represent her country once again. 

It’s an absolute honour to be named in the Young Matildas squad. I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to play alongside such talented girls and against quality opposition. I am looking forward to the challenge ahead.

The top two teams from each of the two groups in Chonburi will advance to the semi-finals of the competition, with the top three sides at the tournament earning one of Asia’s qualification slots at the 2020 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

Group B consists of Japan, China PR, Korea Republic, and Myanmar.

“We have spent the past three weeks holding a series of short but highly beneficial camps in Sydney,” Blayney explained. “These camps have helped the coaching staff finalise our squad for the Asian Championship, which is the most prestigious tournament for females of this age group across our confederation.”

“We believe that with the squad we have going to this tournament we are a strong chance of earning Australia qualification for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup for the first time since 2006.

“Many of the players in the squad have had significant Westfield W-League exposure across the nation, while players such as Karly Roestbakken, Mary Fowler, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Princess Ibini, Rachel Lowe, and Courtney Nevin have had varying levels of exposure to the senior Matildas’ set-up, too,” she said.

After another brief camp in Sydney (17-21 October) the Westfield Young Matildas will travel to Chonburi on the 21 October. Following a week acclimatising in the heat and humidity in Thailand, Australia will commence match play on 27 October.

Meanwhile, many players in Australia’s squad for the 2019 AFC U-19 Women’s Championship will be balancing their studies with their Young Matildas commitments as they take part in HSC exams.

FFA has worked with relevant education departments to enable the exams to be completed abroad. Throughout the pre-camp and tournament period eight players will complete a total of 38 exams, 27 of which will be completed in Thailand.

Rachel Lowe, who attends college in the United States at UCLA, will also be undertaking US college exams. This process will not be unfamiliar for Lowe, who completed HSC exams during qualifiers for the tournament in Beirut, Lebanon last year.

Westfield Young Matildas 23-Player Squad | 2019 AFC U-19 Women’s Championship | Chonburi, Thailand

Football South Australia also congratulates Adelaide United W-League players Mary and Ciara Fowler on their selections.

Upcoming Matches – Westfield Young Matildas | 2019 AFC U-19 Women’s Championship | Chonburi, Thailand

DPR Korea v Australia
Date: Sunday, 27 October 2019
Location: IPE Stadium, Chonburi, Thailand
Kick-off: 4.00pm (local); 8.00pm (AEDT)

Australia v Thailand
Date: Wednesday, 30 October 2019
Location: Chonburi Stadium, Chonburi, Thailand
Kick-off: 7.00pm (local); 11.00pm (AEDT)

Australia v Vietnam
Date: Saturday, 2 November 2019
Location: IPE Chonburi Stadium, Chonburi, Thailand
Kick-off: 4.00pm (local); 8.00pm (AEDT)