Sport
17 April, 2026
Rising star aims for Matildas
INNISFAIL’S rising soccer star Addison Tanti has stepped on to the national stage, representing Queensland at the CommBank Emerging Matildas Championships in Melbourne.
It’s a remarkable achievement for the talented 14-year- old, who is the town’s sole selection in the under-15 girls’ state team.
Tanti is lining up alongside Far North Queensland teammate Charlotte Ireland from the Stratford Dolphins as the pair take on the country’s best young footballers at Bundoora, the home of the Matildas, from 9-15 April.
The Innisfail United defender said she was thrilled to pull on Queensland colours.
“I’m looking forward to the experience as it’s a fantastic opportunity to make new friends and play at a competitive level,” she said.
Her selection follows an impressive performance at trials in Brisbane late last year, earning her a place in the under-15 emerging Matildas state squad. Players are drawn from the Football Queensland Academy Emerging Program and the Football Queensland Academy State Team pathways.
These national championships give Queensland’s most promising young footballers the chance to showcase their skills while testing themselves against elite peers from across Australia and is an important milestone for these players on the pathway to potential national team selection.
Tanti has been part of the Football Queensland system for three years. She began in the Skill Acquisition Program (SAP) for players aged 9–12, focusing on technical development, before progressing to the high performance Talent Support Program (TSP) in 2025 and again this year.
Selectors monitor players throughout the season at carnivals held in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Brisbane and Maroochydore. Standout TSP players are invited to major tournaments. Tanti represented Queensland in the under-14 girls’ team, as part of the Pacific Championships held on the Sunshine Coast last year.
In February, Tanti who plays club football for Innisfail United’s under-15s in the Football Queensland Premier League impressed again during Peninsula trials at Southside Comets’ home ground in Edmonton.
She earned selection in the 13-15 years girls’ team for the upcoming championships in Townsville from 7-10 May.
Tanti has been playing soccer since she was four, starting with the Innisfail Tigers Squirts. She now excels as a left or right fullback and can also slot into centre back when required.
Her parents, Steven and Cassie, said they were incredibly proud of her dedication.
“Addison’s passion and commitment to soccer is commendable and it is her top priority,” they said.
“She trains two nights a week in Cairns for the Football Queensland program, plus two nights a week at home for Innisfail United.
On weekends she travels to Cairns for games which is a huge commitment as she balances schoolwork and her sporting passion.”
With her sights set firmly on the future, Tanti is dreaming big.
“My future dream is to play professional soccer and hopefully one day represent the Matildas,” she said.