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Matildas coach, Joe Montemurro, has announced his squad for the upcoming Women's Asian Cup, and it's a squad full of experience, excitement and full of big names. This squad will be one of the more experienced going into the tournament.

Seven Matildas selected have over one hundred caps. There's another five who have over fifty caps, and even underneath that, there's a smaller collection of players who are approaching fifty caps.

The Matildas will clearly be one of the more experienced teams playing in the tournament. Of course, being on home soil, should give them a significant advantage.

I guess the big name missing from the announcement today was the heroine from the penalty shootout win against France in the twenty twenty-three Women's World Cup. That being, of course, Courtney Vine, who hasn't had enough football under her belt. In close consultation with Joe Montemurro, the cards were laid on the table, and the decision was made that Courtney was just a little bit short of where she might need to be for the tournament.

It did pose the question, however: how ready is Mary Fowler to play? Only fifteen or so minutes of club football in the lead up to the Asian Cup squad announcement.

And when asked, Joe Montemurro said, behind the scenes, outside of the game minutes that Mary has been able to accumulate so far, the club has been working and Mary has been working into a position where she is really fit and ready to go. So that's exciting for Matildas fans.

Of course, the team to be led by Sam Kerr, who hasn't had a lot of football herself in the last couple of years. According to her, her Chelsea form is really ready to go for this tournament, so all things are set.

The squad's announced, the players can relax - those who've been picked at least.

Joe Montemurro can get ready to plot the course.

The proof of the pudding, of course, will be in the eating, and that first taste comes against the Philippines!

-Andy Harper

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