Katrina Gorry recalled for Olympic qualifiers despite losing $90,000-a-year Matildas contract
Despite losing her $90,000-a-year contract, Katrina Gorry looms as a key figure for the Matildas’ Olympic qualification hopes — but she will only be paid a pittance for her services.
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Just weeks ago she was dropped from the list of contracted Matildas, but Katrina Gorry looms as a key figure for Australia’s Olympic qualifying hopes after being included in Ante Milicic’s squad for the campaign next month.
Milicic lauded Gorry’s ability to break down packed defences, despite cutting her from the top tier of contracted Matildas to no deal at all under the terms of the new collective pay deal.
It means that Gorry – who had earned $60,000 a year previously as a top-tier player, and would have gone up to $90,000 under the new deal if she had kept that status – will now get $250 a day while in camp, plus a share of the money allocated for match payments and win bonuses.
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Her inclusion raises question marks over the decision to drop Gorry from the contracted players list, in which Lisa De Vanna was given the lowest tier but not included for the Olympic qualifiers.
Australia will play Chinese Taipei, Thailand and China in seven days, before hoping to earn a two-legged playoff against Korea Republic, Vietnam, or Myanmar in early March, the winners going to the Olympics.
Seeking creativity against teams expected to mass behind the ball, Milicic said Gorry’s creative streak had earned her a place in the squad.
“Gorry is one player who against the type of opponent we expect to face, has the ability to break down a congested defence and lots of bodies,” he said.
“She also has good setpiece delivery and lots of experience. It was a close call between her and Amy Harrison, but Katrina has had a good start to the W-League season.
“With her experience and what she can do in the final third, that made me decide to include her in this camp.”
Bizarrely Gorry could yet become a contracted Matilda once more, albeit on the lowest level earning $40,000 a year, under a clause in the pay deal which says that any player has to be upgraded if they feature in 50 per cent of camps in a year, running from August to July.
Having been selected against Chile in November and now this squad, Gorry has a good chance of being included in the squad for the March playoffs if Australia qualifies – putting her on the brink of being upgraded.
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De Vanna’s absence shortens still further the odds on her international career having come to a halt, while another notable absentee is teenage Mary Fowler.
The 16-year-old has scored seven goals for the Young Matildas and Adelaide United in the past two and a half months, but Milicic hinted she need to build her game time at club level.
“It’s been a lot for her (in the past few months), you mustn’t forget she is just 16,” he said. “Yes she has been an exciting prospect with a lot of potential, but she’s benefited from the games she has played (for Adelaide).”
Originally published as Katrina Gorry recalled for Olympic qualifiers despite losing $90,000-a-year Matildas contract
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