Catley reflects on Australia's rise since 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup

At the 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup, Steph Catley was a rookie. Now, four years on, she's a battle-hardened international star. 

At the 2014 Asian Cup in Vietnam, the attacking full-back was 20 years old and had 21 caps to her name in the senior national team. 

Now, aged 24, the Melbourne City star has 63 caps and is one of the most experienced cogs in coach Alen Stajcic's game plan. 

"I can't remember the player I was back then," she told FFA TV. "But I'd like to think I've made some improvements since then. 

"At that tournament [in Vietnam] 'Staj'had just come in and I don't think there was much expectation on us to do that well. 

"We ended up playing some really good football and making the final."

An excellent Japan edged Australia in the final after Stajcic was given the job just a month before.  

It was a fabulous effort by the coach and team in difficult circumstances. 

"There's a lot more experience in the team. The core of the team is pretty much the same so a lot of us have a lot more caps combined. 

"So when you think of it like that, our team's a lot more experienced and we're playing some of our best football ever.

"This time it'll be pretty different for us. There's a lot of expectation on us, obviously none last time," added Catley.

"Training has been great. We're enjoying it so far." 

Australia kick off their 2018 AFC Asian Cup campaign in the early hours of this Sunday morning. 

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