Ella’s outstanding performance during last weeks Promising Matildas camp held at the Australian Institute of Sport convinced Matildas coach Tom Sermanni that the technically gifted midfielder is ready for the senior team.

The Promising Matildas squad, coached by Alistair Edwards, is designed to fast track the most talented players from the national U/17 and U/20 teams as well as the younger members of the current Matildas squad. The 18 player inaugural Promising Matildas squad also included WA’s 14 year old sensation Sam Kerr.

Ella will team up once again with WA’s women’s football superstars Collette McCallum (now playing in the USA) and Lisa De Vanna (Sweden) for the games against Canada. The second game in the series will be played preceding the Socceroos v Ghana game in front of a packed house at the 40,000 capacity Sydney Football Stadium.

Collette, Lisa, Ella and Sam are all products of Football West’s National Training Centre Program which continues to produce some outstanding outcomes for Western Australia’s elite players being identified, developed and selected for the respective male and female age group national teams.

Ella’s progress has been nothing short of remarkable. She has been involved in the NTC Program since she was 12 years old and has progressed through the U/17 and Young Matildas (U/20) squads. Being the youngest member of the 2007 Young Matildas squad at 15 she has now joined an illustrious small group of players to be selected for the senior national team in her 16th year.

Ella’s long term coach Alistair Edwards sees some uncanny similarities in Ella to that of the world class Collette McCallum, ‘they both have outstanding technical ability through years of practice, have grown up training and playing with and against the boys and they are constantly striving for perfection. They are classic modern day footballers - quick feet, outstanding game awareness, ability to play in tight areas. What makes them so special is their vision and technical execution” said Edwards.

“Three years ago Ella’s mum told me that Ella said at 4 years old she will play for the Matildas and I have been privileged to witness, through Collette and now Ella what can be achieved through desire and a meticulous focus on standards, I am thrilled for Ella and her family.”

“Ella’s inclusion in the squad is a fantastic personal achievement and represents a terrific milestone in her footballing career. The high level of Western Australian representation in the squad is great news for our local players and should serve as an inspiration to all those with ambitions to follow in their footsteps.”
 
The Matilda’s will face Canada on Friday 23 May – Kick Off, 5.15pm, Sydney Football Stadium.