Geelong’s girls football talent will be showcased on the national stage next month, with ten players from the region selected to compete in the 2026 CommBank Emerging Matildas Championships.
Six players from Geelong Galaxy — Hannah Walsh, Katarina Arbanas, Rosie Maule, Isabelle Petsas, Ayla Nikolovski and Mathilde Randles Pedersen — have been named in the Football Victoria squads, while North Geelong Warriors’ Evie Stosic has also earned selection through the FV Academy program.
Three additional Geelong locals and former Galaxy players were selected – Mikaela Witt, now playing with Spring Hills; Violet Smith, now with FV Academy and Gemma Durrand, now at South Melbourne.
The Championships will be held from April 9–15 at the Home of the Matildas at La Trobe University in Melbourne, bringing together the country’s top Under-15 and Under-16 female players.
The CommBank Emerging Matildas Championships are a key national talent identification event, providing a platform for Australia’s most promising young footballers to showcase their ability in front of national team technical staff. Teams from Football Australia’s nine state and territory member federations, along with invitational sides, will compete in one of the premier youth development tournaments in the Australian football calendar.
Football Victoria Geelong Chair Mike McKinstry said the selections were a strong reflection of the region’s growing depth in girls football.
“It’s fantastic to see ten players from our region recognised at this level,” McKinstry said.
“These selections highlight the hard work being done by the players, their families, coaches and clubs. It’s a proud moment for the Geelong football community and we wish them all the best as they represent Football Victoria on the national stage.”
The selection of ten players from the Geelong region highlights the continued growth of girls football locally and reflects the strength of development occurring across community clubs and academy programs.
All players will represent Football Victoria against the nation’s best young talent in a highly competitive environment designed to support long-term player development.
The Geelong football community will be watching closely as the players take to the field in Bundoora, with strong local support behind the group as they test themselves at the national level. ⚽👏
