CommBank Matilda Charli Grant said that the team was hungry for success with new Head Coach Joe Montemurro at the helm.
She was speaking in Perth ahead of the team’s upcoming games in Western Australia against Slovenia and Panama.
“We're definitely hungry to achieve more,” the 23-year-old said.
“We've fallen short in some big tournaments. So, we want to work really hard and be competing with those top nations.”
Grant gave an insight into the squad’s initial meetings with Montemurro.
“He's really excited to get started with us,” she revealed.
“He's got really good basic principles that lift us to another level. He said that we've got the players and we've got the talent to do it. So it's just about being disciplined and then bringing us up to the next level.”
The extended, four-game international window has meant that a squad of 33 players was selected by Montemurro, with player fatigue and load management in mind.
The large squad has opened the door to a number of new and returning players, something that Grant said is vital to the team’s success.
“We've got a lot of players coming in, both experienced and new, and I think that's really exciting for the team,” she said.
“To compete with the best teams, we need to have that depth. We need to have people step in at all times. So it’s a big opportunity for all players.”
Slovenia and Panama are opponents that the CommBank Matildas have not had too much experience against. Grant explained that coming up against different teams and different styles of football is vital to their preparation for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™.
“It's exciting playing against different styles of football,” she said.
“It’s really important for the Asian Cup, so we can adapt to different playing styles of teams.
“Like any game, we're just going to focus on ourselves and try to put the best foot forward.”
The Asian Cup comes almost three years after the incredible success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™, a tournament that forever changed the trajectory of women’s football in Australia and New Zealand.
Grant agreed that the Asian Cup was an opportunity to galvanise fans in the same way, and to recreate some of the scenes from 2023.
“The World Cup was incredible,” Grant reflected.
“It changed so much within football and sport in Australia. To be hosting the Asian Cup next year in Australia again, that’s going to be huge.
“We hope the fans can get around us just as much as they did at the World Cup.”
The first two games of the series are against Slovenia. They are ranked No. 38 in the world by FIFA but come into the games off the back of a fantastic year that included a 4-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland and promotion into League A in the UEFA Women’s Nations League.
Grant stressed that the CommBank Matildas would be focused on their own game against a potentially tricky opponent.
“We come into every camp looking forward to playing together and focusing on implementing this new game plan that Joe’s spoken about,’ she said.
“We’re just looking to be the best team we can. We know Slovenia are going to put up a good fight. They've had some good results.
“We’re just focusing on ourselves, trying to improve and grow as a team.”
COMMBANK MATILDAS | JUNE/JULY 2025 | MATCH SCHEDULE
Series One
CommBank Matildas v Slovenia
Date: Thursday, 26 June 2025
Kick-off: 7.00pm WST / 9.00pm AEST
Venue: HBF Park, Perth
TV Broadcast: Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+
Radio Broadcast: ABC Listen App
Tickets: Buy Tickets
CommBank Matildas v Slovenia
Date: Sunday, 29 June 2025
Kick-off: 6.00pm WST / 8.00pm AEST
Venue: HBF Park, Perth
TV Broadcast: Paramount+ exclusive
Radio Broadcast: ABC Listen App
Tickets: Buy Tickets
Series Two
CommBank Matildas v Panama
Date: Saturday, 5 July 2025
Kick-off: 2.30pm WST / 4.30pm AEST
Venue: Hands Oval, Bunbury
TV Broadcast: Paramount+ exclusive
Radio Broadcast: ABC Listen App
Tickets: Buy Tickets
CommBank Matildas v Panama
Date: Tuesday, 8 July 2025
Kick-off: 6.00pm WST / 8.00pm AEST
Venue: HBF Park, Perth
TV Broadcast: Paramount+ exclusive
Radio Broadcast: ABC Listen App
Tickets: Buy Tickets