Peters debuted in 1996 for the Matildas just before her 17th birthday. A year later she had a knee reconstruction from cartilage tears which she said had continual issues until she retired in 2009. Now she says both knees have major degenerative effects but still considers herself as “a lucky one”.

It was announced on Monday that Matildas coach Alen Stajcic would bring inexperienced teenagers Alex Chidiac, Princess Ibini and Olympian Ellie Carpenter to the 2017 Tournament of Nations in USA.

Prior to that, Stajcic had selected seven uncapped teenagers for a Matilda’s camp at AIS in Canberra from August 11-14.

Peters believes there is not a place for teenagers in the women’s game at the highest level and feels the Young Matildas and W-League has enough pressure on young footballers.

“We think of them in the here and now rather than what’s in the best interest for them and for the game in 10 year's time,” Peters told FourFourTwo.

“I think leave them alone for another five years and wait until they’ve developed personally, physically and have some life experience under their belt.

“If we could move that age range from 15-year-olds coming through and their careers end mid-20s, add a few more years into that and you’ll get players into their prime and that’s what world champion teams are made up of – mature women.

“I’m really disappointed to be honest, we bring in these young kids that don’t need to be there.”

Peters also spoke of Matilda Samantha Kerr after her recent form for Australia, Perth Glory and Sky Blue FC.

She questions how long the 23-year-old will be able to sustain her form as she made her Matildas debut back in 2009.

“Imagine if Sam was only beginning her career now and had another 10 to 15 years in front of her,” she said. “We’re still too short-sighted and doing a disservice to the game by throwing them in there too early.

“We’re just short-changing the game in a lot of ways through promoting teenagers or to just go to senior national team camps. It’s called seniors for a reason.

“If you want a 20-year-old to pursue a career, you’ll tell them ‘you’ll be living off breadcrumbs but still pursue’, but it’s easier to say that to a teenager, they’ll do it for the love of it.”

Peters in action for the Matildas in 2005

Former Matildas captain Melissa Barbieri is currently coaching NPLW VIC side Heidelberg United and feels times have changed internally and the way players are portrayed in the media.

She used 15-year-old Kyra Cooney-Cross as an example, who was recently included in the first Matildas camp.

“You have to worry because you know the way they’re marketed in the media, Kyra for example - everyone’s like ‘aw, she’s made the Matildas squad’, well hold on let’s just calm the farm,” Barbieri said.

“She’s at camp and I’ve had a group of girls turn up to camp once and we broke her arm because she was way out of her depth.

“I understand you want to make a fuss about it and be proud of her, but that’s the added pressure on her. There wouldn’t be anyone in camp saying ‘mate you’re not a Matilda yet calm down…’, because we’re too nice to do that anymore.

“Back in the day, the older players would’ve said ‘get out of here…’. They’re all welcoming and making sure, but they have to be good to even break through.”

Barbieri coaching Heidelberg. By Rachel Bach, ByTheWhiteLine

Barbieri however encourages Stajcic to trial the youngsters in the best interest for the future.

“Could you imagine if he didn’t and just hosted a camp with five players in there?” she said.

“He’s doing the right things because we have to grow for the future and I think it’s great he didn’t just pull all the Young Matildas out.  That’s the best part because they’ve just undergone their own camp. They’ve brought in a few of those ones but then added others into the mix, you have to these days.”

Stajcic was also contacted for comment and said the whole idea for the first camp was about growing players to make sure they know what’s around the corner when the time comes.

“I thought it was really positive camp, I was really happy with the outcome in the way the players performed and improved throughout the week,” Stajcic told FourFourTwo.

“I was pleasantly surprised about the level they could compete at senior international football level. They’ll be knocking on the door fighting for a spot.

“I’m hoping that transfers through to those players and transfers into our junior national teams as well.”