Westfield W-League skipper, Hayley Crawford, and fellow defender Thea Slatyer have been rewarded for superb seasons, today being named in Australia’s FIFA Women’s World Cup preliminary squad.
An award winning season with Newcastle has opened the door for Jets- Westfield W-League skipper Hayley Crawford to play at this year-s FIFA Women-s World Cup in Germany.
Crawford was exceptional for Wayne O-Sullivan-s side this past campaign, and her on-field efforts have brought about a call-up to the Westfield Matildas’ preliminary squad. Rock-solid defender, Thea Slatyer, a mainstay in the Matildas backline, has also been included.
The squad, under the watchful eye of national team coach Tom Sermanni, will attend a training camp in Canberra this week and Crawford told www.newcastlejets.com.au that she was delighted by her selection.
“It-s always nice to get a national team call-up,” the 26-year-old said after she received the news.
“I go away with the team on Thursday and we-ll just see what happens from there.”
“The team goes into camp for the World Cup in June, so it-s a 30-man squad at the moment and I-ve got to go down there and try to do well to keep myself in the running for when they cut it down to 21 for the World Cup.”
“My main aim will be to do well in camp to hopefully make that squad for the World Cup in June and July. But, first things first, I just have to perform well in this camp.”
The strong central defender claimed the club-s Player of the Season award just a fortnight ago, and is eager to see where her current form can take her with the world-s largest women-s tournament looming.
“It-s always good to see how the national team is set up. Obviously I haven-t been in there for a couple of years so it might be a little bit different, but it-s always good to go down and test yourself to see where you-re at.”
“It-ll be eye-opening as well, just to see how everyone else trains and how things are different to what we do everyday here with the Jets,” Crawford explained.
No doubt all Jets fans are behind the club-s inspirational Westfield W-League captain as she mixes it with the country-s best.
To keep up-to-date with Hayley Crawford during the camp, visit www.newcastlejets.com.au from Thursday, 3 March as she gives her thoughts via an exclusive online diary.
Westfield Matildas 30-man preliminary squad:
Collette McCallum (Perth Glory), Samantha Kerr (Perth Glory), Laura Alleway (Brisbane Roar), Karla Reuter (Brisbane Roar), Kim Carroll (Brisbane Roar), Clare Polkinghorne (Brisbane Roar), Brooke Spence (Brisbane Roar), Elise Kellond-Knight (Brisbane Roar), Casey Dumont (gk) (Brisbane Roar), Aivi Luik (Brisbane Roar), Tameka Butt (Brisbane Roar), Lauren Colthorpe (Brisbane Roar) , Lisa De Vanna (Brisbane Roar), Melissa Barbieri (gk) (Melbourne Victory), Lydia Williams (gk) (Canberra United), Emily Van Egmond (Canberra United), Sally Shipard (Canberra United), Caitlin Munoz (Canberra United), Ellie Brush (Canberra United), Michelle Heyman (Canberra United), Ellyse Perry (Canberra United), Servet Uzunlar (Sydney FC), Kyah Simon (Sydney FC), Kylie Ledbrook (Sydney FC), Leena Khamis (Sydney FC), Teigen Allen (Sydney FC), Danielle Brogan (Sydney FC), Caitlin Foord (Sydney FC), Catherine Canulli (Sydney FC), Thea Slatyer (Newcastle Jets), Hayley Crawford (Newcastle Jets), Heather Garriock (Sydney FC), Sarah Walsh (Sydney FC)
