Moving Mary Fowler further away from goal could be the key to ongoing Matildas success

A key move for Matildas star Mary Fowler could be the catalyst for more success ahead of skipper Sam Kerr’s imminent return.

The Mary Fowler mystery may finally have been solved for the Matildas, with the move a bit further away from goal making the superstar “more comfortable” after some magnet shuffling that could allow her to bring her best more often.

Under interim coach Tom Sermanni, Fowler has been moved around from midfield to striker to winger and back to midfield.

In Newcastle on Monday night, Sermanni slotted the 22-year-old on to the left wing and she was the clear standout in the Matildas’ 2-0 win over Korea Republic, netting her team’s opening goal.

With two big encounters against Argentina in May looming as the next assignment before a home Asian Cup in 2026, Fowler’s comfort, given her ability to impact, could be the key piece of the Matildas jigsaw with superstar striker Sam Kerr also set to return from injury soon.

“At clubland, I play on the wing quite often, and I really like playing there,” Fowler said.

“I see a lot of the field from there and just a lot of different angles, so I enjoyed being there tonight.

Mary Fowler shoots and scores. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“On a personal level, I want to try be a bit more consistent with my performance for a national team. Being out in that position made it a bit easier for me to be in a role that I’ve played quite a bit this season.”

Sermanni said Fowler was more “involved” in her new position, the coach having spoken previously about the challenge of trying to find her best position in the national team.

“Tonight was the most involved I’ve seen her in a game since I’ve been the coach. You see how valuable a player she is when she actually gets on the ball,” he said.

“We’ve had a couple of conversations, and we’ve talked about where we think – and where she thinks – she’s best fitted. She’s played predominantly for Manchester City on either the left side or the right side.

“At the moment, she feels more comfortable there. It gives her more space to work in, she can create a little bit more from there. If we are playing well, she gets on the ball a lot more.”

Fowler was all smiles after the win. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

With Kerr watching from the stands as she continues to recuperate from a serious knee injury, Fowler showed her capacity to provide a one-two punch when the skipper returns.

But Fowler just wants to play well more often.

“After the last game, we spoke about trying to be consistent and not take that first win for granted,” she said.

“That was a real positive from this game, that we went out there and try to have a consistent performance. I think all the girls are happy with that part.

“We were consistent in both performances, but at the same time, I think we’ve still got a bit to build on … it’s nice that we see a bit of ourselves again.”

Originally published as Moving Mary Fowler further away from goal could be the key to ongoing Matildas success