CommBank Matildas forward Kahli Johnson said she was proud of what she has achieved in 2025. It was a year that saw her debut for Australia in May, overcome a subsequent serious injury, and then earn her spot back in the side.
She spoke after coming on in the second half in Australia's 2-0 victory over New Zealand on Tuesday evening in Adelaide. It was Johnson's third appearance for the national team.
"It was pretty crazy to go from being called into camp, starting, making my debut, scoring a goal, to then being sidelined for a few months," she reflected.
"[The call up for this window] really gave me some perspective on what this year has been for me. I'm so proud of what I've achieved. I'm really proud of myself for being able to persevere and get back into the squad."
The 21-year-old admitted it wasn't easy battling injury during her first season playing overseas in Canada, but she had the support that she needed to find her way back to fit and firing, and in the frame for national team selection.
"It was definitely difficult," she said.
"I just had some really great support around me. I was really grateful for the people in my circle at that time. I worked closely with the physios and other staff, and was able to - thankfully - get back before the end of the year."
This was her second CommBank Matildas camp, and first under new Head Coach Joe Montemurro.
"He seems like an amazing coach," she expressed.
"I'm really excited to be coached under him and be involved in his style of football. He's a great coach. He's obviously really well respected by a lot of players and a lot of the [Matildas] girls, and it's an honour to play under him."
She is one of a number of players who will be hoping to impress Montemurro ahead of the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026™. She said that learning from the players around her in this camp will put her in the best possible position to push for a place in the final squad.
"Being in and around this level of football [is helpful]," she said.
"You look at the calibre of players that we have in this camp, and so many of them are such legends of the game and have done so much. To even be amongst them, and to learn from them and watch them train, I think that's the best position I can put myself in.
"To be able to play alongside them, that's going to just elevate my game even more. That's all I can do."