The CommBank Matildas squad features eight players who will play in this tournament for the first time, while FC Como star and fan favourite Alex Chidiac is a surprise inclusion.
Kerr to captain side in Perth opener
Sam Kerr will lead the squad into her fifth Asian Cup, which kicks off in her home town of Perth on Sunday 1 March against the Philippines, as the Matildas look to win a first continental title since 2010.
This tournament has been billed as the Matildas’ Golden Generation’s final chance to win a major tournament together, particularly on home soil, and to do so they’ll be boosted by a number of fresh faces at this level.
First-time selections included
Fullback Charli Grant is the most significant omission in a 26-player contingent that includes Winonah Heatley, Kahli Johnson, Jamilla Rankin, Charlize Rule, Amy Sayer, Kaitlyn Torpey and Jada Whyman, all playing their first Asian Cups, while World Cup star Clare Hunt will taste her first continental tournament as well.
Veterans Tameka Yallop and Chloe Logarzo Berryhill had both been ruled out of the tournament with season ending injuries, while the biggest name missing from the 2023 showpiece in Australia is penalty shootout hero Cortnee Vine, with 22-year-old Kahli Johnson and 25-year-old Kaitlyn Torpey supplanting her to join Caitlin Foord and Hayley Raso in rounding out the options who can play out wide.
Chidiac returns to squad
37-capped Chidiac, now playing at FC Como, is in the squad for the first time since July, forcing her way into Joe Montemurro’s calculations through sheer weight of good form in Italy.
Heyman included in attack
One player who was not in that 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup but will feature next month is Michelle Heyman; the veteran Canberra United striker will belatedly get her taste of a tournament on home soil as part of an attack featuring Kerr, Fowler, FC Rosengard’s Remy Siemsen as well as Melbourne City’s 23-year-old sensation Holly McNamara.
