Lydia Williams and Steph Catley’s close bond helping Matildas quest for Tokyo Olympics
They love bad baking shows, making fun of each other and — of course — winning. And Steph Catley and Lydia Williams have enjoyed plenty of success with Melbourne City and the Matildas.
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Matildas stars Steph Catley and Lydia Williams are so tight they virtually live in their own international bubble. And finish off each other’s sentences.
The Melbourne City duo’s energy, humour and self deprecation is infectious – exemplifying why the Matildas were ranked Australia’s most beloved national team last November.
“Every day she makes fun of me. When I’m at the gym, she starts making faces while I’m lifting (weights) – can’t concentrate,” Williams says.
Catley continues: “She has a jumping face – it’s a mouth movement, and her eyes go wide, mouth goes in. Then she jumps. I see it every time.”
Williams, 31, laughs: “She searches (for me) and waits. She’ll stop her exercise and stare and when I look up (she’s there).
“We just clicked because (ex Matilda and Collingwood AFLW star) Bri (Davey) was there, and we worked well together (as keepers). You and Bri were close, then we hung out.
“Steph’s a bit of an old soul, more mature (age 26) than she seems. Sometimes.”
Enjoying an exhilarating Matildas journey, the friendship has enabled them to ride out turbulence.
Take the 2019 FIFA World Cup last June, where Australia was in a tizz after the woefully handles coach sacking.
Asked to reflect on the tumult, they appear bemused.
“We didn’t hear it. (Read) a few negative comments after games, (but) I was oblivious. Maybe other players say it was everywhere,” Catley said.
“You’re on the move so much. With time difference, unless something blows up you don’t really hear it.”
Williams, who survived Catley’s “roommate curse” – usually leading to Matildas exit – said they were distracted by a cooking show.
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“You don’t have enough time for social media. Day off, travelling, training, video sessions, games,” Williams said.
“In downtime, we watch Netflix. Our Wi-Fi was pretty shocking in many places.
“We watched ‘Nailed It!’, the cooking show. People that think they can bake and they turn around and (say) ‘nailed it’. Not even anything (close).”
Laughing out loud, Catley adds: “Bad bakers making these absolutely impossible cakes, it’s hilarious.
“The camera zooms in and it melts. They don’t know how to use electric mixers. They rarely ever bake the cake right, so decorations are everywhere.
“A guy confused salt and sugar. They had to taste it (pulls a funny face).”
The Matildas are nailing their Tokyo 2020 qualifying campaign, with vice-captain Catley wearing the armband – Sam Kerr came off the bench – scoring her third goal in 78 games in Friday night’s 7-0 win over Chinese Taipei, where Arsenal-bound Caitlin Foord netted a hat-trick.