Matildas; Joe Montemurro says his first camp has been intense
Matildas coach Joe Montemurro says he's balancing building the next generation of world class players while still winning now and after two games in charge is adamant it's 'looking positive' he can do both.
Montemurro has seen a batch of his next-in-line talent through two games against Slovenia with more of his 33-player squad set to strut their stuff against Panama on Saturday in Bunbury in the absence of a host of first-choice players.
The intensity has been high during the new coach's first camp and he conceded there are a few 'sore bodies' as he tries to drill down his style of play in a short period of time.
'But we have to send that message to make this is the level we need to be training at and this is the level they need to take away from the national team,' Montemurro said.
Joe Montemurro, coach of the Matildas works with his players (Photo by)
'Everyone has been great, even with the integration of the young kids with a few of the more experienced players.
'We've seen a lot of talent and I'm looking forward to the next two games.'
Montemurro has made his name as a club coach at some of the world's biggest but transitioning to national duties means some adaptation from him as much as players, given the limited access to them.
But he's working out his system and hopes everyone involved in his first camp will take the right things away, and be better for them when they next link up.
'When you are working with players every day you can drop feed them messages and slowly add you r layers of building to where you want to go,' he said.
'When you have a short amount of time you've got to be a lot more clearer and more thoughtful with the messages when you are together and make sure they take home some ideas that we could bring back going forward.
Joe Montemurro with Teagan Micah (Photo by)
'The biggest one is to give them some base principles they can take with them all the time and we can see their growth while they are not with us.'
When asked about exposing 'fringe' players during the four games with the likes of Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler unavailable, Montemurro was adamant there are 'no fringe players'.
'Everyone is up for an opportunity, it's really important to send that message,' he said.
'That's why this camp has been important, to look at some players but also put in some ideas and the more players we can have a look at, the better it has been.
'It';s now giving them the base things, the three or four key things that being a Matilda is, and giving them opportunities in real scenarios.
'It's been the [perfect camp for that.'
Originally published as New coach Joe Montemurro letting every player in his squad know what it takes to be a Matilda in first camp
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The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
Matildas v Panama LIVE updates, scores, how to watch, news, team lists
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The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
Six yellow cards and two stretchers: Matildas lose 1-0 after Panama's second half strike
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Although the loss to Panama came as a surprise and also marked a big wake-up call, the Matildas fielded a side missing a host of their biggest stars. Sam Kerr, Mary Fowler, Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Katrina Gorry and Clare Wheeler were all absent from the current international window. Ellie Carpenter, Mackenzie Arnold, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Sharn Freeier exited the squad following the Slovenia series, while Amy Sayer and Charli Grant were rested. Montemurro made a whopping 10 changes to his starting side against the Central Americans, with Kaitlyn Torpey the only player in the starting XI who also started in last week's draw with Slovenia. Panama's day started on a horrible note, with goalkeeper Yenith Bailey lasting less than a minute before hyperextending her left knee while attempting a save. The Matildas controlled possession and territory in the first half, but there were still danger signs. Defender Natasha Prior had to time her sliding block to perfection to deny Panama striker Riley Tanner a close-range shot on goal. Loading Tanner was at it again in the 41st minute, with her powerful strike from a difficult angle slamming into the post. In between Tanner's threats, the Matildas wasted several good chances. Their best first-half opportunity fell at the feet of Emily Gielnik, who had the goal at her mercy but got her timing all wrong as she attempted to connect with Holly McNamara's dangerous cross. King gave Panama the lead when she latched on to Matildas goalkeeper Teagan Micah's save to power home a volley. The Matildas pushed hard for an equaliser, with Montemurro unleashing a number of debutants off the bench, but in the end it was Heyman's missed chance that proved to be the one that got away. The Matildas enjoyed 66 per cent possession but only unleashed four shots on target for the match. AAP yesterday 6.45pm Full-time statistics The full-time statistics show just how many opportunities the Matildas missed in the second half. In passes alone, the Matildas made more than double the amount that Panama did across the 90 minutes, completing 413 to Panama's 209. Heyman misses easy chance for Australia as the game dies Michelle Heyman had the ball squarely in front of the goal, with Panama's goalkeeper off her mark and fails to take the last chance of the game for the Matildas. Instead, Panama seals the game with a goal from a 19-year-old forced substitution after a second of their players was stretchered off. The Panamanians drop to their knees when the full-time whistle blows. Australia 0-1, full-time. yesterday 6.29pm Extra time added to final minutes An official has indicated there will be six additional minutes in the second half of this match, reflective of an aggressive game that has seen quite a few injuries. Van Egmond delivers the ball to Prior, who heads it, but Galabadaarachchi can't manipulate the fall of the ball in the right direction. Taranto receives a yellow card in her first match for the Matildas for grabbing Cedeno's shirt. Australia 0-1 Panama, 90+4 minutes yesterday 6.24pm Two more Matildas make their debuts While Panama leads on yellow cards, Australia are maxing out their player debuts. More substitutions see Torpey and McNamara replaced by Alexia Apostolakis and Grace Kuilamu, who will hope their first Matildas games don't end in a loss. Cox is substituted by Carmen Montenegro. Australia 0-1 Panama, 86 minutes yesterday 6.21pm Bunbury crowd urges on Matildas comeback Taranto takes a shot on her debut but it's blocked by a diving Cordoba. Holly McNamara strides up the right side. A well-timed sliding tackle from King takes away the opportunity and gives Panama a goal kick. Australia's fresh legs are building momentum. On the opposite end, Lincoln gets lucky in front of the Australian goal as a quick touch takes it out of the path of Panama's striker. Marta Cox is awarded a free kick and delivers it straight into Lincoln's gloves. The Bunbury crowd gets louder as they edge on the Matildas. yesterday 6.14pm Yet another yellow card for Panama as Australia make more substitutions Panama are collecting yellow cards as the referees lose their patience with the side. This time, it's Jaen who pulls Torpey's shirt. Panama are swapping four players out as Emily Van Egmond and Galabadaarachchi replace Gielnick and Chidiac. Galabadaarachchi is the third player to make her debut for the Matildas this evening. For Panama, Natis is swapped for Rebeca Espinosa, Jaen is replaced by Arlen Hernandez, Arauz comes off for Lineth Cedeno. Finally, Quintero makes way for Katherin Parris. yesterday 6.07pm Another card brandished as players fall Nevin joins the list of players dropping across the pitch with injuries. She's back up too and play continues. Another card is pulled out and given to Gonzalez for a foul on Gielnick. We get a shot of Salazar being pushed to the Panama bench in a wheelchair with her foot in a moon boot. It was her substitution, Sherline King, who scored for the side. Australia 0-1 Panama, 70 minutes yesterday 6.02pm Australia make substitutions, Micah off Micah takes the opportunity to leave the pitch after heavy contact moments ago. She's replaced by Chloe Lincoln, who makes just her second appearance for the Matildas. Australia make two more substitutions, replacing Raso and Berryhill with Heyman and Adriana Taranto makes her national team debut. Australia 0-1 Panama, 63 minutes yesterday 5.56pm Panama substitute scores Marta Cox strikes the ball at the Matildas' goal and it's blocked by Micah. Australia's luck is short-lived as the rookie King takes advantage of the rebound, sending the ball to the back of the net. Australia seek retribution immediately. 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Mudgee preview, tips: David Smith banks on Lockdown Gamble's class in Cup
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Smith, meanwhile, is suitably bullish about the prospects of the supremely well-bred mare Champers Girl when steps out in the Oriental Hotel Benchmark 66 Handicap (1200m). Smith's mare was nothing short of the eye-catcher in the race when she finished second to one of Dubbo's most in-form horses - Midnight Dream - at her most recent outing. 'I'm extremely happy with her too,' the trainer declared. 'I think she is probably my best chance on the card.' Champers Girl, as her name may suggest, is a great granddaughter of Champagne who won the 1998 Mackinnon Stakes, four days prior to her close second to Jezabeel in the Melbourne Cup. Smith's stable of blue bloods doesn't end there. His Mudgee digs are home to Instead who was once part of Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin racing string. A daughter of Lonhro, Instead is a very close genetic relative of the Hong Kong champion Vengeance Of Rain, AJC Oaks winner Dizelle and her VRC Oaks winning daughter, Pinot. 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NEXT BEST Race 6 No. 6: RED SPECTOR Left a lasting impression when he won at Coffs Harbour back in December. VALUE BET Race 7 No. 2: THE IMPECKABLE Third-up; good draw, good jockey, good prospects. QUADDIE Race 4: 1 Race 5: 1, 4, 8, 10 Race 6: 2, 6 Race 7: 2, 3, 6, 9 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW AARON BULLOCK has a 20.7 per cent winning strike-rate at Mudgee. Aaron Bullock can add to his impressive record at Mudgee. Picture: Getty Images INSIDE MAIL - MUDGEE RACE 1: Mudgee Florist (Bm66) 2000m DE LOUVIERE (3) is a Matthew Smith trained son of the German Derby winner Sea The Moon who was scheduled to race at Beaumont on Tuesday, only the meeting was washed out. Smith's Irish-bred import blotted an otherwise exemplary copybook with that fading seventh of eight at Wyong last start but he did plenty of overtime up there in a no holds barred 2000m. AVION FURY (1) boasts a plethora of provincial form. Failed last start too but this looks a lovely race for him to bounce back. Maybe BUSH TELEGRAPH (2) wants 2000m now. Bet: De Louviere to win, exacta 3 to beat 1 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 2: McGrath Country Boosted Mdn Plate 1200m GREAT IDEA (2) is a rising six-year-old with just one start on his resume this far; that was on March 9 this year when an eye-catching fourth at Tamworth in a 1200m race at $61. Resurfaced at Scone on June 25 winning a 1000m trial. Good draw, Grant Buckley rides, nice race for him. ANOTHER PEACH (9) has been blessed with what might be a 'winning draw'. She should do no work and thus have no excuses if she can't run up to her best from box three. Mack Griffith's local SILENT ACE (6) is a massive watch. Bet: Great Idea each-way ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 3: XXXX Cup (Bm82) 1400m LOCKDOWN GAMBLE (1) has won seven times with six placings in his 31 starts. He is of course trained here at Mudgee where his record at this track and trip is rather impressive; five runs, one win and two thirds. The win was in an 82 and the thirds were in the Mudgee Cup and the CDRA Championships Qualifier. ZULFIQAR (2) was scratched from the Midway at Rosehill to run here. Hasn't been far away his last two. MEDINAH (7) is a Mack Griffith-trained local whose own record at the Mudgee 1400m is almost faultless being three starts for two wins. FLORINO (3) should be very prominent in the run from that alley. Bet: Lockdown Gamble to win ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 4: Goree Super Mdn Hcp 1400m LAST LALIQUE (1) is a half-sister to stablemate Dollar Magic. This three-year-old daughter of Star Witness has raced three times so far for a fifth, a fourth and lastly a third, that one at Scone when closing off willingly. That was 1300m, this is 1400m. How perfect could it be. GHAZNAVI (5) remains winless after 16 starts but he has placed five times; two of them have been since he joined the Cameron Crockett. He does look to be getting close but we've said that before. BONNIE AND BRUCE (2) can figure. Bet: Last Lalique to win ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 5: Oriental Hotel (Bm66) 1200m CHICO CASINO (8) is a handy horse. The Dean Mirfin-trained four-year-old was an easy winner on debut at home. His record as it stands is 15 starts for two wins and nine seconds, four of them are seconds. We should also point out that he ran in the 2025 CDRA Qualifier and wasn't awful either. Drawn wide but has Aaron Bullock to assist. Stablemate DE FORERUNNER (1) has raced at Mudgee twice for a win and a third. He is the top-rater in the race which has to count for something and the trial was a beauty. GRINS (4), CHAMPERS GIRL (10) and VOIGNER (3) are in medal contention. Bet: Chico Casino to win, Daily Double 1st Leg 8, 2nd Leg 2 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 6: Bisec Hcp (C1) 1200m RED SPECTOR (6) is one of the handful of progeny of Red Henno to have raced so far and all of them can gallop. None better, or faster, than this Jake Hull-trained three-year-old who was just so impressive when he won that 1205m maiden at Coffs Harbour on December 30. Brilliant again in his June 16 trial. PRESSNELL (2), the horse named in honour of the great man himself (Max) has his first run at Mudgee after some tidy efforts away from home. Has plenty of wins in him. WILD SENSATION (5) has drawn well and is in good shape off a recent second at Nowra. Bet: Red Spector to win, exacta 6 to beat 2, quinella 2, 6 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 7: Wild Oats Country Boosted Hcp (C2) 1400m THE IMPECKABLE (2) sent out signs that a win was imminent when he came from well back at the 400m to finish third in a 1400m Benchmark 58 at Tamworth on June 16. That was second-up so it stands to logic that he should be at his peak now for this very suitable race. Gets Chad Lever, good draw and 1400m. PODCAST (3) wasn't too bad in his first Highway attempt at Rosehill on June 14. This is easier of course but made slightly harder than it could have been given a very wide draw, Still, he gets back anyway and has Aaron Bullock to help out. Bet: The Impeckable to win, quinella 2, 3
