After a week of thrilling football at The Home of The Matildas at La Trobe University, the 2026 CommBank Emerging Matildas tournament has come to a close.
While our Victorian sides were not able to secure any silverware in this year’s iteration of the national championships for Under 16’s and Under 15’s girls, our four sides competed fiercely and represented their state proudly.
The Under-16 Blue side, who were looking to repeat as national champions, fell agonisingly short of lifting the trophy, losing 2-0 to a strong Football West side in the final match of the tournament.
The Victorians weren't without their opportunities, but seemed to frequently find a well positoned defensive block in between them and the back of the net. They fought until the very end, but fell just short for their ultimate goal.
The Under-16 White side finished the tournament in 9th place following their 2-1 victory over NSW Regional on Tuesday.
The Under-15 Blue side finished up the championship in fifth place after beating Queensland Maroon in penalties on Tuesday.
And the Under-15 White side closed out their tournament with a 2-0 win over South Australia to finish in 7th place.
Congratulations are due to head coach of the Under-16 Blue side, Sebastian Zancan who was named as coach of the tournament.
Victorian official Anna Liacopoulos was also named as referee of the tournament in the Under-16 division.
Head of Youth Development Steve Mautone was incredibly pleased with how the tournament played out and applauded everyone involved.
"As a whole, this tournament has been a really big success. I'm really proud of our players and coaches who have, collectively, been fantastic.
“Our job as a member federation producing these players is not just to go out and win these things, but to showcase players. We have to produce four teams thate play in a certain style to get the best out of our players and their playing style.
“That style has to suit Mike Cooper, the Junior Matildas coach, and the rest of the Football Australia selectors to give our players the best chance to be selected for those national sides.
“While we want to go out there and win every trophy, we also have to consider how we can make this tournament the best for every individual player. We achieved that this year and that’s why I think it has been a really big success.”
Football Victoria CEO Dan Birrell thanked everyone who made this such a successful week.
“The CommBank Emerging Matildas and Emerging Socceroos tournaments are two of the most exciting weeks in the football calendar, and this year’s Emerging Matildas was no exception.
“I would like to thank everyone who came to our home here in Melbourne this week - the participants and players, their friends and families, Football Australia and fellow member federation staff.
“And I would also love to thank our commercial partners for their support throughout. Thank you to Sharp EIT, La Trobe University, Jetts Fitness and New Balance.”
Earlier, New South Wales Sky won the Under-15s CommBank Emerging Matildas Championships after an impressive 3-1 triumph over Queensland White.
The NSW side raced out to a 3-0 lead courtesy of Selena Mifsud’s 16th-minute header, Rose Selimiotis’ stunning strike on the cusp of half-time and substitute Anabel Carbone’s goal just after the break.
Queensland skipper Charlie Wiegan set up an exciting final 25 minutes but New South Wales Sky were good enough to stop any momentum swinging the Queenslanders’ way.
An ecstatic coach Anissa Tann pointed out that the most pleasing aspect of the win was how quickly a group of fresh faces had clicked so quickly.
"This is a new intake for us," she explained.
"For them to do so well and obviously listen and follow instructions, I'm really happy. They did pretty well."
She continued: "I was hoping that we got Navy into the final as well. But...as it's a new intake, I'm just really, really happy that they've been able play good football."
Mifsud has had a brilliant tournament and her header took her tally to 10 goals for the week. She was sharp at the back post, reacting quickly when a superb cross from the left crept past the goalkeeper.
The Western City Rangers striker has been in prolific form in this CommBank Emerging Matildas Championships, and after a brief delay to consider a potential foul on the goalkeeper, she was able to celebrate with her teammates.
"I reckon all the girls came out and wanted one thing and that was to win it and we all did it for each other," an elated Mifsud said.
"I'm really proud of all the girls for it."
Just before half-time, she was thwarted by a brilliant one-on-one save from Eve Hooper in goal, but Selimiotis made sure it was 2-0 at the break, with a thunderous strike in stoppage-time.
Seconds after APIA Leichhardt’s Carbon rounded the goalkeeper to make it 3-0, Wiegand floated a speculative cross in from the left, which sailed in to make it 3-1, but that was where the scoring ended as New South Wales celebrated in style.
Captain Georgie Serra said they wanted to see how far they could go as a group; now, they have the answer.
This article was originally published on football360.com.au
List of Award Winners
U15 Fair Play: Football Tasmania
U16 Fair Play: Football Tasmania
U15 Referee of the Tournament: Isabella Walshe (NNSW)
U16 Referee of the Tournament: Anna Liacopoulos (Football Vic)
U15 Coach of the Tournament: Anissa Tann (Football NSW Sky)
U16 Coach of the Tournament: Sebastian Zancan (Football Vic Blue)
U15 Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Charlotte Lacey (Football QLD Maroon)
U16 Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Zoe Reader (Football QLD Maroon)
U15 Golden Boot: Selena Mifsud (Football NSW Sky) - 10 goals
U16 Golden Boot: Sophie Aungle (Football NSW Sky) - 7 goals
U15 Championship Final MVP: Selena Mifsud (Football NSW Sky)
U16 Championship Final MVP: Milla Butler (Football West)
U15 CommBank Player of the Tournament: Evie Murphy (Football NSW Sky)
U16 CommBank Player of the Tournament: Tessa Young (Football NSW Sky)