International matches for the Young Matildas has seen incoming coach Heather Garriock take charge of Canberra United youngsters in camp at the AIS.
With the Young Matildas in camp ahead of clashes with the USA and Canada, a small group of Canberra United players are getting another chance to work with incoming coach Heather Garriock ahead of time.
The National U/21’s side are in camp at the AIS to prepare for two matches with the United States and one with Canada, and with Garriock working as an assistant coach with the side, Canberra United youngsters Clare Hunt, Georgia Boric, Nickoletta Flannery and Grace Maher have enjoyed the opportunity to work with the new boss.
“I think it is really important; I’ve had a whole year with her now, and the other girls have worked with her week in, week out [with Sydney Uni],” Maher said.
“I think the relationship building, understanding her as a coach and having her understand us as players, it will be really helpful not only for myself as an individual to get into the team, but just what I can get out of her during the season.”
Hunt plays with Flannery and Boric under Garriock at Sydney University in the New South Wales PS4 NPL Women’s, and said that Garriock’s high standards are a driving force behind her continued improvement.
“I think with Sydney Uni I’ve found myself grow a lot with her as coach,” Hunt said.
“And having her presence here in the national team, it’s quite helpful and quite familiar having her as coach.”
“She just demands excellence which is a huge thing, and that just lifts the level here.”
Ahead of three matches against the top class international opposition, Garriock said it is a great chance not only to work with her future charges, but to use it as a barometer of where other youth programs are in respect to the Young Matildas.
“I’ve seen quite a lot of them [United girls],” she said, “and we’ve even had some of the young girls through this week.”
“We had Laura Hughes in, Sarah Morgan in and young [Karly] Roestbakken is here today.”
“It’s not often we get international teams out, especially the Youth sides,” Garriock continued.
“It will be good to see where the U.S. is at and where Canada is at, compared to the Australian Youth development.”
While they formally are exhibition matches, Flannery admitted that the normal pre-match jitters will still be there.
“The nerves are there, but it will be such a great experience for us,” she said.
“It won’t be easy, and it will be a great test to see where we stand at an international level as a group. They’ll be great, high-tempo matches.”
If you’d like to catch the Green team in action (in Gold), see below for details! Admission is free and spectators are more than welcome!
AIS Grass Field 2
Young Matildas v Canada
Saturday 8 July 2017
Kick-Off: 10.00am AEST
Young Matildas v USA
Monday 10 July 2017
Kick-Off: 3.30pm AEST
Young Matildas v USA
Wednesday 12 July 2017
Kick-Off: 3.30pm AEST
