Matildas squad to tour New Zealand announced

So the squad is out and isn't it an interesting one! Certainly pretty different from the players who attended the training camp in Canberra a few weeks ago and one that actually isn't as inexperienced as perhaps thought. Helping that is a few players back in the line-up, like Sally Shipard and Kylie Ledbrook, who have both been out of the set-up for two years. In particular it's great to see Shipard back, after she retired at just 19 and then had her W-League comeback cruelled by an international transfer, but more on that later. Thea Slatyer is another who hasn't played a whole lot lately, but was a starting member in defence at the 2007 World Cup. Then there is the talented youth, Sam Kerr, who cleaned up at the W-League awards despite hardly playing any games. Aivi Luik will be on her first Matildas tour after ending her American college career to do just that.

Technology issues prevent me from easily putting it all up here, but briefly here is the squad and I promise more will follow!
Melissa Barbieri (gk), Tameka Butt, Kim Carroll, Lauren Colthorpe, Lisa de Vanna, Heather Garriock, Katie Gill, Elise Kellond-Knight, Sam Kerr, Leena Khamis, Kylie Ledbrook, Aivi Luik, Collette McCallum, Clare Polkinghorne, Sally Shipard, Kyah Simon, Thea Slatyer, Servet Uzunlar, Sarah Walsh, Lydia Williams (gk).

The squad will play games against New Zealand on February 17 and 20.