Geelong Galaxy United defender Annabel Martin is one of five Victorian players who have been selected for the Young Matildas (U20) squad which will compete in the AFF Women's Championship in Myanmar between 26 July and 4 August 2016.

According to a press release issued by Football Federation Victoria last week, nine young Victorian players have been selected for international duty across two youth Matildas teams.

Five Victorian players – including Galaxy’s Annabel Martin - have been selected for the Young Matildas (U20) who will compete in the AFF Women's Championship in Myanmar, while four Victorians have been invited to attend Junior Matildas (U17) camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

Says the press release, these call-ups come off the back of Victoria finishing second at the FFA National Training Centre (NTC) Challenge in Canberra in June and winning both the 13-and-under and 15-and-under divisions at last week's Westfield National Youth Championships in Coffs Harbour.

FFV Interim CEO Cathy Acocks said the international selections were reflective of Victoria's commitment to Talented Player Pathways and strong culture of supporting female football.

"Victorian women's and girls' football entered a new era this year with the introduction of women's PlayStation 4 NPL Victoria competition," Ms Acocks said.

"These international selections are just the beginning of the sustainable, long-term Talented Player Pathway that FFV's NTC, Talented Player Program and PS4 NPLW is providing for Victorian women's and girls' footballers.

"I would like to congratulate these nine young women on being selected to represent their country. With MiniRoos Girls participation up 12 per-cent and junior girls up seven per-cent in Victoria this year it is exciting that our rapidly growing female football population have role models to look up to."

Martin came to Galaxy after taking out the Melbourne Victory Women’s Medal as the club’s Best and Fairest player in the last W-League season.

Galaxy Head Coach, Vince Ierardo knows Martin well. He was an assistant coach at Victory during the most recent W-League campaign.

“Annabel is a true professional in every sense of the word, both on and off the field,” said Ierardo.

“She has had a fantastic debut season in the W-League followed by a number of standout performances in the NPLW for Galaxy United where Annabel is part of our leadership group. Despite her tender years, she is our vice captain. 

“It’s great to see her performances have been noticed at national team level. I'm extremely proud of her and she has a very bright future ahead.”