Jenna McCormick’s insistence on sticking to soccer is paying handsome dividends after giving up a brilliant AFLW career
An outbreak of China’s Wuhan ‘pneumonia’ in the city where the Matildas are expected to play group matches in the Tokyo 2020 qualifiers next month is causing some concern for soccer officials.
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Jenna McCormick’s decision to give up a brilliant AFLW career has been vindicated when the South Australian edged a step closer to representing Australia at the Olympic Games.
The duel Crows AFLW premiership player has been named in the Matildas squad to play in the Tokyo 2020 qualifiers in Wuhan, China next month, which is causing some concern for soccer officials.
The Wuhan ‘pneumonia’ has seen 59 cases, the local health commission told the China Global Television.
The cause of the outbreak is unknown, but severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and the bird flu have been ruled out.
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Melbourne Victory’s McCormick is the only South Australian in the squad.
She impressed coach Ante Milicic in her debut appearances across the two-game Chile series in November but Adelaide United striker Mary Fowler wasn’t on the list.
Milicic however said McCormick does have competition to keep the centre back spot naming Laura Brock (nee Alleway) and SA’s Emma Checker who weren’t named in the squad as being very unlucky.
“(Giving up AFLW for soccer) it just shows how serious and how much it meant to her (McCormick) to play for the Matildas,’’ Milicic said.
“Now she has a dream of potentially going to the Olympics.
“A lot has happened to her in a short space of time, playing the Aussie rules and coming over to football and playing for the national team.
“She went away with Melbourne Victory (at the 2019 AFC Women's Club Championship in November) and she’s got a lot going on.”
Milicic also insisted Fowler’s move to bottom of the table, winless Adelaide for her W-League season debut after she was in last year’s FIFA women’s World Cup in France wasn’t a wrong move.
He also voiced concerns about Fowler’s immediate future claiming she should be thinking about playing more club soccer once the Reds W-League campaign is over on February 27 – unless they make the four which is a long shot.
“She (Fowler) hadn’t played in the W-League and she needed match minutes, she needed games and I think this is the right club to get games,’’ Milicic said.
“You mustn’t forget she is just 16, yes she has been an exciting prospect with a lot of potential but she’s benefited from the games she has played.
“I watched her play the first game of the season against the Western Sydney Wanderers at Marconi Stadium and she looked ever so sharp.
“I understand the question with the point of they’re (Adelaide) not getting the wins and they’re not higher up the table and I’m sure maybe as a striker you look at the service that you get.
“I think as a young player (games) is the best thing you can do, she just now needs to build on that.”
Adelaide United keeper Sarah Willacy and Melbourne City’s star Checker were also part of that Matildas squad that faced Chile but missed the cut.
The Matildas need to finish either first or second in Group B of Asian qualifying to advance to the final phase of matches for a place at Tokyo 2020.
The next stage would see Australia face Korea Republic, Vietnam, or Myanmar in early March 2020 in home-and-away matches.
Matildas squad
Mackenzie Arnold (Brisbane Roar), Ellie Carpenter (Melbourne City), Steph Catley (Melbourne City), Caitlin Foord (Sydney), Emily Gielnik (Bayern Munich, Germany), Katrina Gorry (Brisbane Roar), Elise Kellond-Knight (Brisbane Roar), Alanna Kennedy (Sydney FC), Sam Kerr (Chelsea FC, England), Chloe Logarzo (Sydney FC), Aivi Luik (Melbourne City), Jenna McCormick (Melbourne Victory), Teagan Micah (Melbourne Victory), Clare Polkinghorne (Brisbane Roar), Hayley Raso (Brisbane Roar), Karly Roestbakken (Canberra United). Kyah Simon (Melbourne City), Emily van Egmond (Melbourne City), Lydia Williams (Melbourne City), Tameka Yallop (Brisbane Roar).
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualification matches in Wuhan, China
February 3: Matildas v Chinese Taipei at Five Rings Sports Centre
Kick-off: 6.30pm
February 6: Thailand v Matildas at Five Rings Sports Centre
Kick-off: 6.30pm
February 9: Matildas v China PR at Five Rings Sports Centre
Kick-off: 10pm