Fans slam bizarre Matildas scenes in Clare Polkinghorne tribute

Fans have hammered two key details in the pre-match ceremony ahead of the Matildas’ 3-1 defeat to Brazil at Suncorp Stadium.

Fans have reacted strongly to some unusual pre-match scenes prior to the Matildas’ 3-1 friendly defeat to Brazil in Brisbane.

The night was all about retiring veteran Clare Polkinghorne, who played her Australian record-extending 168th match in the green and gold.

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The 35-year-old defender has spent more than half her life as a Matilda and there was an emotional tribute at Suncorp Stadium.

She then admitted post-game she was going to play out the home friendly series, another clash with Brazil and two games against Taiwan, leading commentator Andy Harper to jokingly calling her “Johnny Farnham”.

But many of Polkinghorne’s teammates were visibly emotional during the ceremony, with a number of fans querying why it couldn’t have been held after the game.

That was compounded when the Aussie side quickly went 2-0 down after goals in the sixth and 13th minutes from Brazilian Amanda Gutierres.

Check out the ceremony in the video player above

Clare Polkinghorne warming up before the ceremony. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“Great celebration for Polks. But! Surely they could have done it after the game?” was one comment on X.

“Would you not do the farewell after the game? Strange,” wrote another.

Polkinghorne seemed to be feeling the urgency of the game ahead herself when she gave a quick speech after the video tribute.

“Just a few quick words from me, we’ve got a game to get on with,” the Queenslander said.

“It’s so special for me to be here and celebrate in front of my home fans in a city I grew up in and a stadium I absolutely love.

“This team has been everything to me and it’s been a hell of a journey and I’m very thankful for everything.

“Thank you very much and let’s get on with it.”

The players were emotional before kick-off.

There was barely a dry eye in the house.

The Paramount Plus commentators noted the situation late in the first half when they said “you could see how unhappy (Polkinghorne) was to have all this attention before the game”.

There was another controversial moment during the pre-match ceremony when NRL great Darren Lockyer presented Polkinghorne with a framed jersey to celebrate her career.

Among her many accomplishments, Polkinghorne has featured in five FIFA World Cups and three Olympic Games, passing fellow great Cheryl Salisbury’s record of 151 appearances last year.

But the fact Football Australia chose a rugby league player to present her with the honour didn’t go down well.

“Surely we could have found a soccer person to present the framed jersey instead of a Rugby League person,” football fan Jason Sultana wrote on X.

Darren Lockyer presenting a framed jersey to Polkinghorne. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Brazil quickly jumped out to a two-goal lead. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“Why the f@#$ would you get an ex NRL player to present Polkinghorne the shirt? Surely a female ex Matilda or male Socceroos player!!!” offered a fired up Michael Macchio.

“Darren Lockyer? nice bloke but FFS we couldn’t find someone from the same code and maybe even female to present that to Polks? Geez we do some dumb s**t,” added X user Vince Scarcella.

There was a smattering of support, with journalist Joey Lynch tweeting: “My television melted down from the sheer Queensland energy on the screen when Darren Lockyer emerged to present Clare Polkinghorne with a memento before the game.”

Another football fan, Deng Nguyen, reacted to Australia’s poor start when he wrote: “Prescient words from Polkinghorne, ‘Let’s get on with it’. Nobody in the team was listening.”

The Matildas eventually settled into the game after the emotional pre-match scenes, with Caitlin Foord finishing off a neat move to score in the 43rd minute and reduce the deficit to 2-1 nearing halftime.

The Brazilians hit back after the break, however, with Giovana Queiroz restoring their two-goal edge in the 54th minute.

Polkinghorne was then substituted to a rousing reception in the 63rd minute.

Fans were left frustrated by some Brazilian delaying tactics and there was more than 13 minutes of injury time, but in the end the visitors sealed a 3-1 triumph.