De Vanna would know, as one of an elite Matildas group preparing to play at a third FIFA World Cup next month in Canada.
She joins co-captain Claire Polkinghorne and Lydia Williams for tournament three, outdone only by goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri, who's saddling up for a fourth.
But De Vanna said it was the class of 2011, playing at their second tournament, that would make the biggest impression.
The group includes Servet Uzunlar, Emily Van Egmond, Tameka Butt and Sam Kerr, but De Vanna saved her biggest praise for Caitlin Foord.
"Caitlin Foord to me, is probably the next name of women's football in Australia," she said.
"She's got a lot of potential, she's very dangerous and I think this is going to be a big moment for her if she stays focussed and concentrates.
"She'll be the name, the big star of the team.
"All those girls went into 2011 not really knowing what to expect.
"The game has changed completely now and they know what's at stake."
As an introduction to FIFA World Cup football, they don't come much tougher than Foord's four years ago.
As a 16-year-old and Australia's youngest ever FIFA World Cup player, Foord made her tournament debut marking legendary Brazil forward Marta.
She would be named the Cup's best young player.
Foord, now 20, has since grown into a dangerous wide forward that could play alongside De Vanna as the Matildas hunt success.
De Vanna said Foord's improvement was typical of the next-generation Matildas that will drive the team forward in Canada.
"Everyone has to fight for a spot now and in the past it's never been like that," she said.
"It's the best squad I've played with but we're playing with even better oppositions now.
"I look back at 2007, and if we had the team we had now playing, we would have won the Cup.
"We've got the football brains, we've got the skills, and I personally think we can match up with any team in the world."
Since the Germany-hosted tournament, several of the class of 2011 have made the shift to play in overseas leagues during the W-League's lengthy hiatus.
De Vanna said it was a critical step for player development that stands the Matildas in good stead.
"I've been doing it for 10 years so I've known from day one how it helps," she said.
"It gets you out of your comfort zone and you learn to grow as people, you play with the best in the world and develop that professionalism.
"They've come back and they've come back hungrier."
The Matildas played a 1-1 draw with China on Friday (AEST) ahead of their tournament opener with USA on 8 June.
