By Nick Wright
Jeffrey Hopkins still vividly remembers the sight of a young, jubilant Clare Polkinghorne ambushing her teammates as a goal was scored – whether it was her own or not.
He recalls the joy she expressed when he revealed she was headed for her early World Cup and Olympics campaigns, back in his days as coach of the Brisbane Roar.
But upon the Matildas legend’s revelation 2024 would be her last year in the international arena, the former English Premier League star’s main recollections are of the teenager who simply craved the camaraderie of a team.
Clare Polkinghorne has announced her international retirement at the end of 2024.Credit: Getty
“These players work so hard just to get on the field. The amount of sacrifice they gave just to get out on the field was amazing, so to be able to let a player know all the work they’d done over the previous couple of years had paid off was great for me as a coach,” Hopkins tells this masthead.
“My memories of her go back to that first grand final win, and just seeing the way she used to celebrate goals was amazing. That outburst of passion and enthusiasm was what I remember when I think about those early days.”
It has taken 18 years and 167 caps in the gold jersey for Polkinghorne to call time on a glittering Matildas career, one in which she became the team’s most-capped player.
Hopkins – who now coaches Melbourne Victory in the A-League Women’s, after guiding the Roar to 31 wins, nine draws and just six losses – admits coaching against his old prodigy was a daunting task, encouraging his players to keep the ball away from her.
But the Fulham great is adamant about one thing: the 35-year-old’s legacy would endure.
“You look at some of the things the Matildas stand for, and she epitomises that. They talk about never say die, and the game is never over with Clare,” Hopkins says.
“You can see why the Matildas have that reputation all around the world when you’ve got Clare in your side.
“Her outlook on the game was it’s a challenge, and I’ll embrace the challenge. I think that never say die spirit will stay with the group.”
Jeffrey Hopkins
“The legacy of this group of players, and her in particular, is they have really been able to be more than role models. They’ve let the younger generation of players and supporters see what’s possible.”
The Wynnum Wolves product’s career will come full circle when the Matildas take on Brazil on November 28, when her spiritual Suncorp Stadium home transforms into a celebration zone for her accomplishments.
It is a culmination Wolves’ life member Wayne Gracey saw for her nearly 30 years ago, thriving from the unrelenting support of her father, Anthony – who passed away in 2019 after a battle with cancer.
“I was asked by her father Tony, who had an incredible influence on her career, to come down and take a session with the team. That’s when I first stumbled upon Clare,” Gracey said.
“I didn’t actually realise she was a girl at the time, this little flash of red hair would tear around the park hacking all these boys down. I said ‘hey son, take it easy with your tackles’, and she pulled her cap off and said ‘I’m not a son, I’m a girl’.
“She was quite a ferocious defender … the sheer determination and grit she showed then is what she’s shown throughout her whole career.
“She always played with that determination and pride you want your kids to be aspiring to.”
Polkinghorne now hopes is she is remembered as a player who “gave everything for the jersey”, and helped usher an era where the women’s game is at the forefront of people’s minds.
“I think the thing I’m most proud of is the way the players take ownership and responsibility of the team,” Polkinghorne said.
“They’re not afraid to fight for whatever we think is right. Whether it’s easy or hard, we’ve always put the team before individuals.”