Sayer: I was happy to get a lot of really good minutes

CommBank Matilda Amy Sayer said that she was grateful to receive a large amount of playing time during Head Coach Joe Montemurro’s first international window, and that the team had built a solid foundation throughout.

She was speaking to media after the team’s 3-2 victory over Panama on Tuesday evening.

“The biggest thing we wanted to take from this camp was getting to know Joe's playing style, and learning the styles of other players,” she said.

“We’ve established a really good foundation under Joe. I think we lacked some of it in the first half today, but we got our style - and our style rules - back in the second half.

“Personally, I was just happy to get a lot of really good minutes on the field, and really learn the way that Joe likes to play. I really appreciate the way he likes to play as well. So [it was about] just getting settled into that routine.”

Sayer played in multiple different roles throughout the window, from midfield to the front line. She said that she enjoyed the freedom that she had on the pitch under Montemurro.

“Joe's really given me the freedom to roam around,” she said.

“I think my ideal position is in the midfield. I started in the 10 [attacking midfielder], but then dropped to a bit of a deeper role to support playing out [from the back]. I feel like one of my strengths is recognising the way that the game moves, so if Charli [Grant] is running forward, I'm able to cover her at right-back.

“In previous games, I was playing on the wing, I was playing as a nine [centre-forward]. So I think I have the versatility. Joe sees that too, and a lot of other coaches have seen that in me.

“But what I really appreciate about the way that Joe plays is that he just lets me be myself, and he trusts me to fill those spots where I see them, and where he sees them as well.”

The 23-year-old explained that her experiences with youth national teams helped her adjust when presented with a variety of different opponents and challenges, like the ones that Slovenia and Panama posed during this international window.

“At the Asian Cup, we play a lot of diverse teams, and I have experience playing against those sort of Asian teams coming up through the u17 and u20s,” she said, referencing the preparations for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™.

“Today we saw a bit of playing around with the referee, and some dives, and some really rough opponents. Against Slovenia, it was a bit more possession based, a bit more organised.

“So I think it's given us a really good base to see where the gaps are as a team, in possession and out of possession as well.

“These games are difficult - especially under a new coach - and it's been a really, really long camp, probably the longest I've done in a long time. So just getting used to that and getting used to the variety, I think can only benefit us.”

She hoped that she had put her best foot forward to be included for the final squad in 2026.

“I think the way that I enjoy playing really suits the way that Joe likes to play,” she said.

“I'm adaptable, and however the coach wants to play, I think I have the footballing ability to adjust to that.

“I do think that my strengths and the versatility that I offer are really useful, and I think I've put a really strong foot forward in making my bid for the Asian Cup next year.”