Head Coach Kelly Stirton has named a ten-player squad for the CommBank ParaMatildas' upcoming international series with Japan.
Meet our squad that will take on Japan in our three-match series scheduled for 2, 3 and 4 September 2023 at J-Green Sakai National Training Centre.
Rae Anderson
Position: Defender
Caps (Goals): 3 (0)
Rae made her debut for the CommBank ParaMatildas at the 2022 IFCPF World Cup, adding to her illustrious sporting career that has seen her represent Australia at both the Summer Olympics in track and field and the Winter Olympics in Alpine Skiing. She became the seventh Australian Paralympic athlete to represent Australia at both games.
Georgia Beikoff
Position: Midfielder
Caps (Goals): 5 (13)
Georgia made her debut for the CommBank ParaMatildas at the 2022 IFCPF World Cup, picking up the golden boot at the inaugural competition with 13 goals in 5 appearances and helping Australia to a second-place finish at the tournament.
Beikoff is an Olympic Bronze medalist, winning rose gold at the London 2012 Summer Olympics in Javelin. She also competed in the Women's 4x100m at the 2012 edition of the tournament.
Tahlia Blanshard
Position: Defender
Caps (Goals): 5 (0)
Tahlia also made her debut for the CommBank ParaMatildas at the 2022 IFCPF World Cup, helping Australia to a second-place finish at the tournament as the defender appeared in all of Australia's games.
Blanshard featured alongside a number of her ParaMatildas' teammates at the National Para Football Championships last year representing Capital Football. The tournament also saw the 2022 Annual Para Football Awards take place, with Tahlia claiming the Undefeated Champion for 2022.
Nicole Christodoulou
Position: Forward
Caps (Goals): 3 (2)
Nicole also made her debut for the CommBank ParaMatildas at the 2022 IFCPF World Cup, helping Australia to a second-place finish with two goals to her name in 3 appearances.
Christodoulou has played football ever since she can remember, with two strokes at the age of 21 not stopping her from fulfilling her dream of playing football and representing her country.
Annmarie De Uriarte
Position: Forward
Caps (Goals): 0 (0)
Annmarie is yet to make her first appearance for the CommBank ParaMatildas, with the 15-year-old named the Female Young Player of the Tournament at the 2022 National Para Football Championships.
Karina Grigorian
Position: Defender
Caps (Goals): 0 (0)
Another fresh face in camp, Karina is yet to make her first appearance for the CommBank ParaMatildas, with the 18-year-old looking to make her debut for Australia against Japan.
Eloise Northam
Position: Midfielder
Caps (Goals): 5 (5)
Eloise made her debut for the CommBank ParaMatildas at the 2022 IFCPF World Cup, captaining the side in the inaugural international fixture. The midfielder scored five goals in five appearances for Australia, helping the team to a silver medal in their first-ever tournament.
Northam received the award for 'Goal of the Year' at last year's 2022 Annual Para Football Awards, winning the trophy after a stunning goal against the USA at the World Cup.
Carly Salmon
Position: Goalkeeper
Caps (Goals): 0 (0)
Carly is yet to make her debut for the CommBank ParaMatildas, however, the 24-year-old is no stranger to representing Australia having represented her country at several different sports.
Salmon has a bronze medal from the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships, where she claiming rose gold in the 200m. She also represents Australia in the Para Beach Volleyball team.
Katelyn Smith
Position: Goalkeeper
Caps (Goals): 5 (2)
Katelyn made her debut for the CommBank ParaMatildas at the 2022 IFCPF World Cup, keeping a clean sheet in 3 games and being named Goalkeeper of the tournament.
Smith's goalkeeping heroics were praised in last year's IFCPF World Cup, but her ability to find the back of the net from the other end saw her score on two separate occasions.
She was named the CommBank ParaMatilda of the Year at the 2022 Annual Para Football Awards.
Rachel Tolson
Position: Defender
Caps (Goals): 0 (0)
Rachel is yet to make her debut for the CommBank ParaMatildas, the defender was called up to her first-ever national team training camp ahead of the 2022 IFCPF World Cup but was not named in the final squad for the tournament.
COMMBANK PARAMATILDAS MATCH SCHEDULE | SEPTEMBER 2023
Match Day 1
Japan v Australia
Date: Saturday, 2 September 2023
Venue: J-Green Sakai (Indoor)
Kick-Off: 3:30pm (local) / 4.30pm (AEST)
Match Day 2
Japan v Australia
Date: Sunday, 3 September 2023
Venue: J-Green Sakai (Indoor)
Kick-Off: 3:00pm (local) / 4.00pm (AEST)
Match Day 3
Japan v Australia
Date: Monday, 4 September 2023
Venue: J-Green Sakai (Indoor)
Kick-Off: 10:00am (local) / 11.00am (AEST)
