The sacrifice of leaving home at just 12 years of age to pursue her dream has paid off for teenager Ellie Carpenter, the baby of the Matildas Olympic squad.

Western Sydney Wanderers defender and Westfields Sports High School student Carpenter, 16, revealed she got emotional after learning of her selection. "I burst into tears, my dream came true," Carpenter said. "All my hard work and my sacrifices have paid off now. When I was 12 years old I made the move from Cowra, which is about 400km west of Sydney and I left my family and friends to move to Sydney to pursue my dream with quality coaching and academies up here. Leaving my family was tough, but it's all paid off now, so I'm really happy that I've done that."

Carpenter only thought about making the 2016 Olympic team when she made her Matildas debut back in March when she was 15.

She was only four years old when the Matildas last played at an Olympics in 2004, but the daughter of two PE teachers said she was already kicking a ball by then.

"I remember watching the previous [2012] Olympics. I was looking at that saying 'I'd love to be there one day.'" Carpenter said. "To come this early is just amazing and incredible. I'd be just very happy to get on the field and any minutes would be a dream come true, even to step on the field."

Matildas coach Alen Stajcic nominated Carpenter's ability to play in several positions as the reason she beat out other contenders for an Olympic berth. "She's matured a lot both on and off the field. Physically she is ready to go," Stajcic said.

Matildas teammate Chloe Logarzo was impressed by Carpenter's attitude. "She's hard working and determined and she won't let anything stop her and I think that's such a great thing to have at such a young age," Logarzo said. "I'm going to teach her how to drive. It's great to see her grow up and mature as a person and as a player."

Stajcic rates recalled forward Sam Kerr as one of the world's most powerful women's footballers, but says she still has something to prove going into the Olympics.

Kerr 22, has only recently returned from a foot injury she suffered in the W-League last December. She has made three cameo appearances as a substitute for her American club Sky Blue FC since mid-June. "She's been selected based on her history. We know what kind of impact player she can be," Stajcic said.

AAP