CommBank Matildas defender Natasha Prior expressed that any time playing in Newcastle, where she currently plays for the Jets in the A-League Women, is an occasion she looks forward to.
She was speaking to the media after it was announced that the CommBank Matildas would play two games against Korea Republic in Sydney and Newcastle in April.
“Any time playing here, whichever logo it’s for, it’s always an exciting feeling,” she said.
“All the games in Newcastle, whether it’s A-League Women or a Matildas game, the Novocastrians turn out. It’s such a lovely stadium. It has such a nice feel about it, it’s such a nice place to live and to visit."
“Football is such a pillar of Newcastle, so I think it’s really exciting for games to be here.”
Prior is preparing to head into her second camp with the team when they take on Colombia, Japan and the United States at the SheBelieves Cup later this month.
“It’s such an honour,” she said.
“Now it’s been a few months, and it’s kind of settled in, but the feeling is revamped when you get selected for the next camp.
“I’m hoping that each campaign I can grow stronger and my football improves, and hopefully I can bring that back to the A-League Women.”
The 27-year-old’s focus has been on enjoying her football and making sure that she is taking away as much as possible from her experiences with the national team.
“Each camp, you take something away, you make your game a little bit stronger. For me, that’s enjoyable,” she said.
“It’s such a nice group of girls. What you see on the screen, on Instagram, and on social media is such a true feeling.
“They’re a family, and everyone’s so warm and welcoming. There’s not really a better environment that you could ask for.”
Prior is not the only player who has roots in Newcastle who may be playing in April. Emily van Egmond is a former Newcastle Jets player who grew up in the area, while Clare Wheeler had her breakthrough years in the A-League Women’s in Newcastle as well.
“They’ll definitely be looking forward to coming back and having their friends and family at a home game,” Prior said.
“It feels different than an away game. It’d be really exciting if we’re all selected for those games to do it all together.”
COMMBANK MATILDAS | MARCH/APRIL 2025 INTERNATIONALS
CommBank Matildas v Korea Republic
Date: Friday, 4 April 2025
Kick-off: 8.00pm AEDT
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Broadcast: Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+
Tickets: matildas.com.au/tickets
CommBank Matildas v Korea Republic
Date: Monday, 7 April 2025
Kick-off: 7:30pm AEST
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Broadcast: Paramount+ exclusive
Tickets: matildas.com.au/tickets