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<i>Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni has shown faith in A-League Women players and Melbourne Victory boss Jeff Hopkins hopes it will continue.</i>
Melbourne Victory coach Jeff Hopkins hopes the next Matildas coach can keep tightening relationships with A-League Women clubs and that Australian football can reap the rewards.
Interim coach Tom Sermanni has made a point of calling ALW players into his current camp, with 13 locals amid the current 19-strong squad, after many stars returned to Europe.
On Friday, Sermanni said the full-time boss needed to be based in Australia while Football Australia and clubs ought to have a "collaborative" rather than "combative" relationship.
"Since Tommy's come in, I've spoken to him almost every week," Hopkins said.
"These relationships are a little bit difficult. There's so much going on for a new coach, but I think it's important just to open the lines of communication.
"Every coach in the league wants the Matildas to do well, and we want to help as much as we can.
"It's just about the opportunity that we can pick up the phone and they can pick up the phone whenever they need to and find out how our players are going. That's kind of all you really need.
"Tommy's invited all the (ALW) coaches. It's an open invitation for all the coaches to go and watch the sessions.
"It's a difficult thing, but if you work it really well, I think it will benefit the team, it will benefit the league, and it will benefit the coach as well."
Victory pair Emily Gielnik and Alex Chidiac are among those in the Matildas camp, with both having played against Taiwan on Wednesday.
They are likely to feature heavily in the second friendly against Taiwan in Geelong on Saturday and Hopkins felt Sermanni's interest in local players would give extra motivation for other top ALW talents.
"It's been really positive. Obviously, we will lose a couple of our starting players this week, but I think we can definitely cover them," he said.
"But in the big picture, I think it's excellent for locally-based players to understand they are being looked at, there is an opportunity for them.
"I was at the game the other night, and it's great to see so many local players coming in and doing well.
"It's a real positive for for the individual players. It's positive for the league as well.
"It's also given us a little bit of time as a squad to work on a few of the individual things that we don't get to work on week-to-week."
Victory face Perth Glory, who will celebrate former Victory goalkeeper Casey Dumont's 150th game, away at the Sam Kerr Football Centre on Sunday.
Exciting youngster Ella O'Grady will replace Gielnik up top while Sara D'Appolonia could come in for Chidiac in midfield.
Elsewhere, Wellington host high-flying Brisbane, Western United take on Sydney FC while Adelaide play Newcastle.