Matildas news 2023: Mary Fowler opens up on the mental health battles that drove semi-final push
Mary Fowler cemented herself as one of the most recognisable players on the planet at last year’s World Cup – she opens up to ERIN SMITH on how the Matildas dealt with the tidal wave of attention.
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Mary Fowler has given a unique insight into the Matildas’ circle of trust during the World Cup, revealing the prioritising of mental health above anything else led to Australia’s stunning journey to the semi-finals.
While Matildas-mania gripped Australia during the home World Cup last July, few could have understood exactly the type of pressure and intense spotlight that surrounded the team’s every move.
With heightened media interest, a tidal wave of public support both physically in the streets and virtually via social media, the Matildas were thrust into an intense environment that had the potential to consume and destroy players mentally.
So while the team played ducks and drakes with the media over Sam Kerr’s injury, team tactics and trained predominantly behind closed doors, Fowler said it was all part of their deliberate “bubble” strategy.
“What we did quite well was create our own kind of bubble and our own inner circles within our team and we kept that quite tightly closed,” Fowler said.
“I think that’s credit to the coach and the staff for prioritising that and I definitely think that helped me and probably others as well.
“Everyone has their own way of dealing with pressure and that’s the nice thing about our team, we all support one another but you also trust that your teammate has done the work and they’re ready to go and then when we’re out there, if they need to lift up then that’s what you do for one another.”
Fowler herself has learnt the value, and power, in prioritising mental health.
That’s why she teamed up with Rebel Sport for its Lifeline Collab Collection – a six-piece capsule collection designed by Australian artist, Mulga.
Adidas will donate $1 for every Adidas product sold at Rebel this month to Lifeline and customers can also make a donation online or in store.
The City player said she was very happy to support the cause – especially if it encouraged more people to talk about mental health.
“I’ve had moments where I’ve been in a dark place and sport has been something that has helped me greatly and I think the benefits of doing exercise regularly for your mental health can’t be underrated,” Fowler said.
“The rewards you get mentally almost surpass what you get from it physically.
“For me looking back at times when I’ve struggled a bit, sport has gotten me through a lot of it. And I’m lucky that I’m playing football and it’s my full time job.”
But playing professional football at an elite level brings a heightened level of pressure and stress.
“Sometimes it can be your sport that gets in your head and that is where your mental health problems can stem from which is why I personally prioritise having another form of exercise outside of football that I do regularly as well,” Fowler said.
“Whether that’s yoga or getting up early to go to the gym or going for a walk.
“That’s what the campaign and collection is about, highlighting the power that sport can have and the benefits that it can bring to someone’s well being physically and more importantly mentally as well.”
As history shows, Fowler was one of the true breakout stars of the World Cup for Australia.
She was the star to truly emerge in Kerr’s injury absence with six sensational performances that have transformed her career in England.
Before her breakout World Cup tournament for the Matildas, the 20-year-old from Cairns was mostly a bench player for Manchester City in the English Women’s Super League, playing in 11 matches for a total of just 165 minutes.
This season – which kicked off earlier in the month – she has already surpassed those minutes after the first three matches.
Alongside Matildas teammate Alanna Kennedy, Fowler has started in all three of City’s games.
She played a vital role in their win over West Ham, the draw against Sam Kerr’s Chelsea and win over Everton.
Fowler has even recorded two assists in her 225 minutes.
“It’s been good, I think we are in strong form this season,” Fowler said.
“I think also just for me personally I’m a lot more in-form than I was last season.”
Despite the World Cup being close to two months ago Fowler said she still hadn’t really had a chance to stop and think about what herself and the team achieved.
“We came back and got pretty much straight back into (training),” Fowler said.
“I haven’t really had heaps of time to just sit back and think about it all.
“I haven’t spoken much about it or thought much about it but I think not being in Australia I feel disconnected from it all – I think if I was in Australia I’d think about it a lot more.”
Fowler might not be experiencing the World Cup fever still sweeping the nation – resulting in the record crowds at the opening weekend of the A-Leagues’ women’s competition – but women’s football is bigger than it ever has been in England.
“With the England girls having done really well and off the back of their Euro success, women’s football overall is just skyrocketing at the moment,” Fowler said. “We’ve had decent turnouts for all our games, so it’s been really nice to see.”
Fowler will be reunited with the Matildas at the end of the month for the Olympic Qualifiers, to be played in Perth.
The Matildas will take on IR Iran, Philippines and Chinese Taipei – fighting for the chance to take on the winners and top runners-up from groups B and C in the final qualifying round in February.
Two matches at HBF Park are sold out while more than 50,000 tickets have been sold to the round 2 match against the Philippines to be played at Optus Stadium.
Fowler said their World Cup loss to Nigeria had proven to the Matildas that there was no such thing as an easy team in women’s football anymore.
“I think each team is going to have their own challenges,” Fowler said.
“We don’t face these teams very often and I think it can be harder versing teams that potentially sit in a block for the whole game.
“Every team has a chance and their way of playing and we can’t underestimate any of them these days.
“It’s nice for us to be able to just focus on ourselves and get prepared for the opposition that we will face in this camp and in the future.”
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