Emily Condon has joined Crows dual AFL premiership captain Mark Bickley as Port Pirie’s finest sports export
EMILY Condon put Port Pirie on the global map of sports stars made in the Spencer Gulf when she finally made her Matildas debut, but the highlight of her career ended in tears.
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WATCH out Mark Bickley. Up until now the Crows dual premiership skipper has been Port Pirie’s most famous sporting export but the Matildas’ Emily Condon has put the Spencer Gulf town on the global sporting map.
She made her shock debut for the Matildas against Portugal, although the highlight of her career ended in tears.
The Adelaide United W-League midfielder Condon, 19, lasted just nine minutes on the pitch when she was introduced off the bench in the Matildas scoreless draw with Portugal before a challenge turned her ankle forcing her off the park as she was closing down on goal in a Algarve Cup match in Portugal on Saturday.
That sliding tackle from a Portuguese defender ended Condon’s cup campaign before the Matildas face China in the final group game on Tuesday morning.
It also has the potential to end her 2018 women’s AFC Asian Cup ambitions which doubles as 2019 FIFA World Cup qualification before Matildas coach Alen Stajcic names his squad for the historic debut tournament in the Middle East in Jordan next month.
“There was no notice at all (about making my Matildas debut),’’ Condon said from Portugal on Monday.
“I was just sitting on the bench and then got the call up and then the assistant coach (Gary van Egmond) came over to tell me I was going on.”
Condon said was overwhelmed by the greatest moment in her sporting career with one of the first calls of congratulations post match coming from Port Pirie’s Northern Demons soccer club where she played in the under 18s boys team in 2016.
She said getting on the same pitch as global superstar Sam Kerr and Matildas defender Alana Kennedy with the pair on a shortlist before the 2017 Women’s World XI will be named on March 8 on International Women’s Day was surreal.
“It’s big knowing everything that I had done it’s all worked and it’s all come together in the end,’’ Condon said.
“At the moment I was coming on there was so much adrenaline it was an unreal experience.
“Being among player like Sam Kerr is unreal and I’m loving the experience.”
With Stajcic telling Condon there is potentially two Asian Cup Matildas squad spots up for grabs the Matildas midfielder hasn’t lost all hope of making the cut if she can shake off the ankle problem.
“He told us in camp about the two spots available for the Asian Cup,’’ Condon said.
“The circumstance is different now because I’m injured but I’m still at the point where I am fighting for a position in the team.”
Condon’s international debut was a far cry the hours spent hours commuting to Adelaide from Port Pirie and back (a return trip of 450km), five times a week to attend soccer training and studying during journeys since 2011.
He first real achievement arrived when Condon was signed by Adelaide United in 2014 becoming the youngest player at the club to make her debut.
The former Adelaide Uni midfielder will move to Sydney to be part of a new Matildas development squad full time from mid March.
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