The first time Sienna watched the Matildas compete, cheered on by adoring fans including young girls just like her, she knew she wanted to become a Matilda one day.
Reflecting on that moment, Sienna said, “The first time I watched the Matildas, my eyes lit up. To see women’s soccer recognised and realising it can be played at such a high standard made me want to wear the green and gold.
“And that was when I first realised ‘this is going to be what I want to do.’”
From the Local Pitch to the World Stage
Sienna grew up surrounded by sport and at a young age was determined to pursue it seriously. A keen swimmer in her early years, she soon discovered her love of soccer, and later the Matildas. She joined her local football club at 10-years-old and has built a thriving career marked by local, national, and international success.
In 2024, Sienna and her former teammates from Spring Hills Football Club travelled to Las Vegas to compete for the Albion Memorial Cup. As the only club representing Australia, the team gave their all on the pitch, finishing third out of the 19 teams in their age group.
On the pitch, Sienna is a resilient leader known for uplifting her teammates. “I’m always looking to build my teammates and create a healthy environment in the team. In all the teams I’ve played in, having that healthy, supportive environment is how we achieve success,” she said.
Sienna credits much of her resilience and strength to Hayley Raso, who has inspired her since she first saw her play. “I find Hayley Raso to be an inspirational player. She’s hardworking, she’s determined, and she’s strong on the pitch. She doesn’t back down and I think that’s important as a soccer player to go out there, give it your best, and never stop working hard.”
Sienna was chosen to be part of the Emerging Matildas Competition in 2025 and 2026
The Road to the Matildas
Sienna’s years of resilience and dedication were rewarded in 2025, when Spring Hills selected her for the Emerging Matildas Championships in Sydney. The Championships provide a critical platform for Australia’s most promising young footballers to showcase their ability in front of the national team’s technical staff. Sienna was the only girl from her club to make it to the final round.
It was a dream come true for Sienna, who just two years earlier had been among the 140,000 Matildas supporters who gathered at Fed Square to watch the team compete in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“Being selected by my club to be part of the Emerging Matildas Championships felt incredible,” she said. “You walk in as a normal community player and when you enter the pitch the level of football is completely different. Competing in the Championships showed me that [playing at such a high level] was where I wanted to be and belong, and what I wanted to strive for.”
A year later, in 2026, Sienna was once again selected for the Emerging Matildas Championships, this time held in Melbourne. Her skill impressed the national team, and she was invited to take part in Football Australia’s Talent Identification Scheme, held in June 2026 at the Home of the Matildas in Bundoora. Sienna gave her all across the two games but was ultimately not selected for the Junior Matildas squad.
For Sienna, it is all part of the journey. “Everyone goes through hardships and setbacks, and I think pushing through to prove your love for the game is what really matters,” she said.
Supported Every Step of the Way
When asked what it means to soar, Sienna’s answer comes straight back to the people around her.
“To me, soaring means having wind beneath your wings, and the wind beneath your wings has to come from support. You need to have that support around you, but also to work hard and get that support from people, earn that respect from people, and I think the people who really, truly care about you most will carry you the whole way.”
Many of those people are part of our school community and as Sienna chases her dream of becoming a Matilda, our support is never far behind.
A keen swimmer since a young age, Sienna is a force to be reckoned with in the pool as well as the football pitch
A student at Southern Cross Grammar since Foundation, Sienna can often be found on the Ponsford Oval at recess and lunch, playing soccer with her friends, a habit she has kept since her earliest as a student. In the classroom her specialist subjects which include Sports Coaching, Sports Science, and Health and Physical Education provide insights into the human body and science behind sporting excellence.
“Southern Cross Grammar is one of those schools that you have so much pride in. I believe it is a school that really lifts you up and supports you,” she said. “Growing up around such wonderful people over the past 11 years has not only helped me excel in my academic studies and football career, but has also taught me so much as a person.”
The early years: Sienna celebrates her 100 Days of Foundation alongside her mother Christina
For Sienna’s parents, Luis and Christina, watching their daughter pursue her dream of becoming a Matilda has been both “inspiring and emotional”.
They said, “Since Sienna started playing soccer for a local club we have watched her dedication, discipline, and commitment grow year after year. Her recent achievements are the result of countless hours of hard work and resilience, and we are incredibly proud of the way she continues to pursue her dream with humility, purpose and determination.”
“Southern Cross Grammar has played an important role in nurturing Sienna’s passion for sport by encouraging her to dream big while teaching her the value of hard work, commitment, and resilience.
The support we have received from the School has been exceptional. From classroom teachers and support staff to reception staff and the Principal, every interaction has been met with care, professionalism and genuine interest in Sienna’s development and wellbeing.” –Luis and Christina
Don’t Hold Back
Sienna’s advice for younger students who dream of representing their school, state, or country in sport is simple: “Don’t hold back. Go for it, work hard, and never give up.”
True to her word, Sienna is not holding back, and she is confident that one day she will wear the green and gold.
She said, “I hope when people look back at my career they find that I worked hard to get to where I was. None of it was handed to me on a silver platter and I had to work for what I had.”
For Luis and Christina, seeing Sienna wear the green and gold one day would be “an incredibly proud and emotional moment for our family. It would represent the values that have guided her journey: hard work, perseverance, self-belief and a willingness to continually grow and learn.
“It would be a powerful reminder that with passion, purpose and the support of a strong community, dreams really can become reality.”
We look forward to Sienna’s dream coming true.
