In late November, the CommBank Matildas begin a four-game international window – and ahead of interim head coach Tom Sermanni’s squad selection, debate has already begun regarding potential bolters from the Ninja A-League.
Two rounds into the 2024-25 season, there are plenty of promising performers around the competition putting their names in the selection conversation and on this week’s episode of Dub Zone, A-Leagues commentator Teo Pellizzeri and former Sydney FC captain and two-time Ninja A-League champion Teresa Polias highlighted two players whose early domestic form could lead to international attention.
‘Re-energised’ Victory signing back to her best after off-season transfer
Look around the Ninja A-League, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find many wingers operating at a higher level after two rounds than Melbourne Victory recruit Nickoletta Flannery.
The former Canberra United speedster joined Victory after 87 appearances in green; a Ninja A-League debutant at 16, Flannery has long been touted as an international prospect having represented the Young Matildas but, now 25, Flannery is yet to receive a chance in the senior Matildas squad – thanks in large to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear that halted her progression through the international ranks.
Flannery suffered the ACL tear in November of 2021 in a Matildas’ talent identification camp – an opportunity that could have launched her international career then and there, but instead ruled her out of the 2021-22 Ninja A-League season.
Almost three years later, after returning to football at Canberra United, Flannery is now in full flight at Victory having recorded two assists for the season already – an equal-league high.
Speaking on Dub Zone, Pellizzeri and Polias both spoke about the noticeable improvement in Flannery’s speed in attacking areas, which feels like a return to her blistering best three years after her ACL injury.
“She does look re-energised,” Polias said, analysing Flannery’s performance in Victory’s 3-2 defeat to Melbourne City in Round 2.
“She was getting good ball out on the flank and put great crosses in. She looks like she’s really refreshed.”
Today’s wholesome A-Leagues moment 🥹💙 Childhood @gomvfc fan Alana Jancevski scores her first for the club in a Melbourne Derby!
The 21-year-old combines beautifully with fellow new signing Nicki Flannery to make a lifelong dream a reality 🙌
Watch #MVCvMCY live NOW on… pic.twitter.com/tmBc8OXUbX
— Ninja A-League (@aleaguewomen) November 9, 2024
“Let’s not forget,” Pelizzeri added, “when your weapon is your speed, Flannery came back from an ACL that she suffered in COVID circumstances in 2021 making that rehab a little bit more aggravated and difficult, having to do so much of it alone, in isolation, lockdowns or whatever was on at that time.
“Now we’re seeing her, a couple of years removed from that, a great asset on the wing.
Polias replied: “Well she’ll definitely be on the radar if she keeps playing the way she has been.
“I know it was mentioned on the (TV) coverage that they have been working on getting her the ball out wide and good crosses into the middle which is what she did for (Emily) Gielnik, her service was great.
“I think it’s more about consistency now for Nicki Flannery and looking forward, she could get that call-up again.”
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After an international baptism of fire, this young Mariners signing is ‘on the runway for a recall’
So much has changed for Jessika Nash since her one and only senior Matildas cap, earned in late 2021.
The then-17-year-old played from the start against a formidable United States attack in the first of two international friendlies against the 2019 World Cup in Sydney, and was substituted at half-time of the 3-0 defeat.
At the time, Nash was the youngest Matildas debutant since a 16-year-old Amy Sayer burst onto the scene in 2018 – but hasn’t added to her tally of international caps since.
Now 20, Nash has been a regular in Australia’s international youth ranks, making more than 30 appearances across the Under-17’s, Under-20’s and Under-23’s. In 2024, Nash captained the Young Matildas at both the U20 Women’s Asian Cup and the U20 Women’s World Cup and, after a two-year stint at Melbourne Victory, signed for Central Coast Mariners ahead of the 2024-25 Ninja A-League season.
Importantly for Nash, a change of scenery on the Central Coast has led to a positional change, and the return to central defence after being utilised as a full-back for the majority of her time at both Victory and Sydney FC, where she spent the 2021-22 season.
Nash has been a standout performer for the Mariners so far this season, in both a 3-1 win over Sydney FC in Round 1 and a 0-0 draw with Western United in Round 2.
“She’s back in the centre of defence which, you might recall, was where she played in that game against the United States in 2021,” said Pellizzeri on Dub Zone.
“I think after captaining the Young Matildas, (she) had a good season at Melbourne Victory and now gone to the Mariners in a team where we know (Mariners head coach) Emily Husband knows how to organise a defence.
Although noting Nash’s positional change back to centre-back has resulted in a return to Nash’s best form, Polias pondered whether the 20-year-old needed more time to put together a solid body of work at the Mariners before Matildas selectors came calling.
“She’s been thereabouts before, she’s moved to the Mariners for that sole reason: to get minutes as a centre-back,” Polias said.
“I do think it’s early though, I think she needs to prove herself a little more… I’m just saying, big-picture wise, there (are) a lot of candidates out there before they look at Nash again.”
Pellizzeri continued: “I think there’s no doubt Winonah Heatley, coming off her first cap, will probably be in the squad if fit – but I absolutely think there will be at least one A-League centre-back that they will want to give an opportunity (to), to at least experience the camp environment, even if they don’t see the pitch.”
The Matildas are set to meet Brazil in a two-game international series in Queensland on November 28 (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane) and December 1 (Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast) before two more international friendlies against Chinese Taipei on December 4 (AAMI Park, Melbourne) and December 7 (GMHBA Stadium, Geelong).
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