Clare Polkinghorne to start in one last Matildas game in Geelong

The Matildas’ all-time games record holder will get a surprise bonus farewell appearance as intrigue remains over the search for a new coach.

Matildas legend Clare Polkinghorne will start in her final game of professional football when the makeshift national side faces Chinese Taipei in Geelong on Saturday night.

Interim coach Tom Sermanni confirmed that Australia’s most-capped international footballer would return to the starting XI after she had a home state testimonial game in Brisbane for the first game of the window against Brazil.

The friendly could also be the final game in charge for Sermanni, who was asked to return for his third stint at the helm following Tony Gustavsson’s departure after the failed Paris Olympics campaign.

Sermanni, 70, remains open to continuing on for the Matildas’ next games in February at the invitational She Believes Cup in the USA, but it’s understood FA is still eager to instil a full-time replacement before the tournament with the home Asian Cup now only 15 months away.

He promised another aggressive, fast-paced performance from an inexperienced side now also missing Clare Hunt, Charli Grant and Daniela Galic, who returned to their overseas clubs following Wednesday’s 3-1 win in Melbourne.

Saturday night’s friendly against Chinese Taipei in Geelong is likely to be veteran coach Tom Sermanni’s final game in charge of the Matildas. Picture: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images

Forward Chloe Logarzo was also ruled out of the clash at Kardinia Park after she was subbed out in the first half of her Matildas comeback due to a head knock.

“I think the first thing we’ve learnt is that some players have come in and really stepped up to the level that we’re playing at, and that we actually have some talent around that we need to try to utilise a little bit better,” Sermanni said following the Matildas’ training session at Albert Park on Friday.

“So it’s been really positive, the last few days. Considering we were putting out a team that hadn’t really played together, I thought that we were generally, for most of the game (on Wednesday), really cohesive.

“I think it’s really important for us to have a tempo of the game that is high, to have a really aggressive approach to the game … and to actually use our physicality, which is a big asset for us.”

Polkinghorne, 35, was set to make her 169th and final Matildas appearance in defence alongside Tash Prior, who was impressive in her starting debut and scored the opening goal on Wednesday.

Clare Polkinghorne (right) with her mother, Britha (middle) at her Brisbane send-off last week – which has turned out to be her penultimate appearance in green and gold. Picture: Albert Perez / Getty Images

“Absolutely, it’s a Clare Polkinghorne game. Last training session today, and it will be the last time she takes the field as a Matilda. You can guarantee she will start the game,” Sermanni said.

“Just speak to any Victorians, (a send-off in Geelong) doesn’t get any better than that for a Queenslander.”

The Matildas’ record run of 16 consecutive sellouts came to an end with the AAMI Park friendly this week, and there were still plenty of tickets remaining for the 40,000-seat Kardinia Park for supporters to farewell Polkinghorne.

Sermanni, who would not say whether he also expected the game to be his final farewell, said he wanted his permanent replacement to take a hands-on approach with building a better pathway through junior ranks and the A-League Women to the national side.

“Somebody younger,” he quipped when he was asked what the Matildas needed in their new coach.

“Ideally, it’s someone that has to be here, that has to be invested in the game here, that has to take greater responsibility than just one singular national team.

“Somebody that can oversee the (whole program) … I think somebody that brings that skill set will be important and somebody that understands the Australian culture.”