Western United stars Sasha Grove and Alana Cerne will fly the Australian flag after being selected in an Under 23’s side to compete at the ASEAN Women’s Championship MSIG Serenity Cup 2025.
The squad, led by Matildas assistant coach Joe Palatsides, will travel to Vietnam for the tournament. Australia has been drawn in Group B alongside Myanmar, Timor Leste and some potential familiar faces in the Philippines.
Australia competed at the tournament for the first time in 2022, with the Philippines winning it on home soil on that occasion and boasting Western United favourites Sara Eggesvik and Jaclyn Sawicki in their side.
Grove and Cerne will return to national team action in this camp for the first time in over a year, heading into competitive play at this age group for the first time.
Grove had a standout debut season at Western United, playing every single minute and winning the Club’s Young Player of the Season award.
After becoming the first player in Club history to reach 50 Ninja A-League Women appearances, injury curtailed the back part of Cerne’s 2024/25 season but she has returned to full fitness to feature in NPLW Victoria with Essendon Royals over the off-season.
Western United General Manager of Football Mal Impiombato is eager to see both Grove and Cerne perform on the international stage.
“We are thrilled for both Sasha and Alana to have another opportunity to represent their country and to take part in a high-level, competitive tournament,” he said.
“Sasha made a phenomenal impact in her first season at the Club and has been a mainstay in national team set-ups over a number of years, while Alana has been an integral part of our program through our pathway at Calder United and continues to earn opportunities at international level.
“Everyone at the Club is looking forward to seeing both players in action next month and we wish them and the entire team every success in Vietnam.”
Grove and Cerne are joined by Avaani Prakash in national team action in August with the 18-year-old selected for the Young Matildas’ AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiying campaign.
Prakash and her teammates will be hoping to get the better of Tajikistan, Palestine and Chinese Taipei to earn a place at the tournament in Thailand next year, with the chance to then book a ticket to the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland later in 2026.
