At the forefront of that exciting next generation is Kyra Cooney-Cross.
Part of the Melbourne Victory team crowned W-League Premiers in 2018-19, Cooney-Cross moved to Western Sydney Wanderers last year for a chance to be a regular starter.
What followed was a campaign that showed exactly what all the hype is about. With four goals and three assists from 13 games, she returns to the Victory this season poised for a true breakthrough year.
“I think she s definitely matured as a player,” Leah Blayney, head coach of the Matildas’ Under-20s, tells Goal .
A goal-scoring phenomenon at youth level for Australia, Cooney-Cross went to the 2019 Women’s World Cup with the senior team as a training player.