Canberra's Matildas playing for Newcastle

Sally Shipard, Caitlin Munoz and Amy Chapman will all be playing for Newcastle Jets in this Sunday's opening round of the Women's A-League Challenge.

STAR-STUDDED TEAMS FEATURE IN OPENING ROUND OF WOMEN’S A-LEAGUE CHALLENGE



Up to 11 stars of the Matildas recent FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign are set to feature this Sunday when Newcastle Jets Women host Sydney FC Women in the opening round of the Women’s A-League Challenge at EnergyAustralia Stadium in Newcastle.

The Newcastle Jets Women will be lead by Cheryl Salisbury who captained the Matildas in China, alongside fellow World Cup Novacastrian Kate Gill. The ranks of the Newcastle Jets Women’s side will be boosted by a host of interstate Matildas including Canberra duo Sally Shipard and Caitlin Munoz, Perth’s Collette McCallum and Melbourne’s Melissa Barbieri.

The Sydney FC Women will be captained by Matildas midfielder Heather Garriock and also feature key Australian World Cup players in Sarah Walsh, Dianne Alagich and Joanne Burgess.

Both sides will also contain a number of current Young Matildas including Ellyse Perry, Lyndsay Glohe, Teresa Polias competing for Sydney FC Women, while Adelaide pair Victoria Balomenos and Stacey Day will appear for Newcastle Jets Women.

The second match of the series will take place at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium when Queensland Roar Women host Newcastle Jets Women on Sunday 9 December ahead of the Queensland Roar and Central Coast Mariners fixture.

The final match of the series will take place at the Sydney Football Stadium with Sydney FC Women facing Queensland Roar Women prior to the Perth Glory and Sydney FC match.

Australia recent quarter final appearance at September’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in China was the nation’s most successful appearance in a major tournament with the team finishing sixth in reaching the quarter finals after being knocked out by eventual runners-up Brazil. Following the tournament Australia moved to an all-time high of 12 in the FIFA Women's World Rankings.

The Australian team received wide acclaim for their performance in China and coach Tom Sermanni was last week named Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Coach of the Year, while midfielder McCallum finished third in the AFC Women’s Player of the Year award. Both Salisbury and Garriock were short-listed in the final list of ten players nominated for the AFC Women’s Player of the Year award. Following the World Cup Australian striker Lisa De Vanna was named in the FIFA All-Star team and has also been short-listed for the FIFA World Women’s Player of the Year to be announced in Zurich on December 17.


SQUADS FOR SUNDAY 25 NOVEMBER
Newcastle Jets Women:
Cheryl Salisbury (World Cup Matilda, Newcastle), Kate Gill (WC Matilda, Newcastle), Melissa Barbieri (WC Matilda, Melbourne), Clare Polkinghorne (WC Matilda, Brisbane), Caitlin Munoz (WC Matilda, Canberra), Sally Shipard (WC Matilda, Canberra), Collette McCallum (WC Matilda, Perth), Amber Neilson (Matildas squad, Newcastle), Amy Chapman (Matildas squad, Canberra), Stacey Day (Young Matildas, Adelaide), Victoria Balomenos (Young Matildas, Adelaide), Jordan March (Young Matildas squad, Sydney), Jess Seaman (Young Matildas squad, Sydney), Emily van Egmond (U17 national team, Newcastle), Alison Logue (former Young Matilda, Central Coast), Rachael Wynne (NNSW, Newcastle), Tracey Baker (NNSW).
Coach: Gary Phillips

Sydney FC Women:
Heather Garriock (WC Matilda, Sydney), Dianne Alagich (WC Matilda, Sydney), Joanne Burgess (WC Matilda, Sydney), Sarah Walsh (WC Matilda, Sydney), Lisa Hartley (Matildas squad, Wollongong), Teresa Polias (Young Matilda, Sydney), Ellyse Perry (Young Matilda, Sydney), Lyndsay Glohe (Young Matilda, Sydney), Leena Khamis (former Young Matilda, Sydney), Britt Simmons (Young Matildas squad, Sydney), Sam Spackman (Young Matildas squad, Sydney), Alesha Clifford (Young Matildas squad, Sydney) Lisa Gilbert (NSWIS, Sydney), Carli Ikonomou (NSWIS, Sydney), Linda O'Neill (NSWIS, Sydney), Teigan Allen (NSWIS, Sydney), Nicola Bolger (NSWIS, Sydney), Liz O'Reilly (NSWIS, Sydney).
Coach: Alen Stajcic


FIXTURES
Women’s A-League Challenge
Sunday 25 November, 2.25pm
Newcastle Jets Women v Sydney FC Women
(Newcastle Jets v Central Coast Mariners, 5pm)
EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle

Sunday 9 December, 3.25pm
Queensland Roar Women v Newcastle Jets Women
(Queensland Roar v Central Coast Mariners, 6pm)
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Saturday 15 December, 4.25pm
Sydney FC Women v Queensland Roar Women
(Sydney FC v Perth Glory, 7pm)
Sydney Football Stadium