Perth Glory attacker Kelli Brown and Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Geo Candy have received their first call-ups to the Football Ferns ahead of this month’s international friendlies against Costa Rica.
These debutantes are part of a squad featuring 10 A-League stars from New Zealand’s 23-player roster for the upcoming matches on February 23 and February 26.
Additionally, uncapped Wellington Phoenix starlet Manaia Elliott has also been summoned.
The 10 A-League players included in the Football Ferns squad represent five different clubs:
Canberra United: Liz Anton, Ruby Nathan
Melbourne Victory: Claudia Bunge, Geo Candy
Perth Glory: Kelli Brown
Sydney FC: Brianna Edwards
Wellington Phoenix: Mackenzie Barry, Manaia Elliott, Grace Jale, Annalie Longo
“It’s a real privilege to announce a Ford Football Ferns team for the first time as interim head coach, and I’m looking forward to re-engaging with the players,” said Michael Mayne, the interim coach of the Football Ferns.
“Since taking on this role post-Olympics, I have been on an extensive journey to connect with our broader squad of around 40 players. My goal is to ensure we have a clear understanding of our current position and the path ahead as we aim for the team to perform successfully in Brazil by 2027.
“As we embark on this new cycle, it presents an opportunity to evaluate some newer, less experienced players and to allow those selected for this tour to showcase their strengths and how they can contribute to the team’s success on the field.
“Our main aim is to position ourselves for victories and to advance beyond the group stage at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027, and this represents a valuable chance to foster healthy competition for positions within the squad.
“The team will engage in regular matches as we prepare for the upcoming World Cup, providing numerous opportunities for various players to integrate early in the cycle.
“We want to ensure that by the time the next significant tournament comes around, we’ve explored a multitude of options and strategies that enable us to be more dynamic on the pitch, more innovative with the ball, and ultimately, a team that stands out in how we secure our wins.”
Full Squad:
Liz Anton (19 caps) Canberra United, Australia
Mackenzie Barry (20 caps) Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Hannah Blake (6 caps) Durham FC, England
Kelli Brown (debut) Perth Glory, Australia
Claudia Bunge (31 caps) Melbourne Victory, Australia
Geo Candy (debut) Melbourne Victory, Australia
Milly Clegg (12 caps) Halifax Tides FC, Canada
Brianna Edwards (1 cap) Sydney FC, Australia
Manaia Elliott (0 caps) Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Victoria Esson (24 caps) Rangers FC, Scotland
Michaela Foster (22 caps) Durham FC, England
Macey Fraser (6 caps) Utah Royals, USA
Maya Hahn (debut) FFC Turbine Potsdam, Germany
Jacqui Hand (31 caps) Sheffield United, England
Grace Jale (34 caps) Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Katie Kitching (14 caps) Sunderland AFC, England
Annalie Longo (136 caps) Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand
Meikayla Moore (67 caps) Calgary Wild FC, Canada
Ruby Nathan (5 caps) Canberra United, Australia
Grace Neville (10 caps) London City Lionesses, England
Emma Pijnenburg (0 caps) Feyenoord Rotterdam, Netherlands
Indiah-Paige Riley (27 caps) Crystal Palace, England
Kate Taylor (21 caps) Dijon FCO, France
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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