Matildas striker Sam Kerr has star power of Sally Pearson

Sam Kerr has the star power to join Sally Pearson and Ellyse Perry among Australia’s most marketable female stars.

Matildas striker Sam Kerr celebrates scoring against Brazil in Newcastle on Tuesday.

Somersaulting Sam Kerr has the star power to join Sally Pearson and Ellyse Perry among Australia’s most marketable female stars, a sports business ­expert says.

Shortlisted for FIFA world women’s player of the year, the Matildas striker is the toast of Australian soccer in the wake of blistering recent performances marked with her trademark celebration backflip. The 24-year-old from Perth now appears set to reap the rewards, having signed with Sydney-based PR company Nikstar this week.

“She could be the face of the Matildas for years to come,” Deakin University sport business expert Adam Karg said.

Kerr extended her red-hot form with two goals for the Matildas as they beat Brazil with a 3-2 win in front of 17,000 fans in Newcastle on Tuesday to complete a clean sweep of the two-match series. That gave Kerr seven goals in her past four internationals.

Karg said Kerr was part of a new breed of female athlete capable of becoming a household name at a time when women’s sport is booming.

“Absolutely she (Kerr) has the star power to put her alongside Sally Pearson and Ellyse Perry,” he said, “capable of earning sizeable sponsorship deals in the same sphere as the male stars.”

In past decades Australians had tended to worship swimmers and track and field stars like Susie O’Neill and Cathy Freeman, but new fans were being drawn to professional women’s competitions like AFLW, Women’s Big Bash League, Super Netball and the W-League, Karg said.

“And it’s a really exciting time for the Matildas, coming off the success they had in the US and these two games against Brazil.”

Kerr’s grounded attitude was also winning hearts, Karg said.

“Australians love to see that laid-back, grounded image, but she still has the flair with her celebrations,” he said.

Kerr’s backflips after scoring for the Matildas have delighted fans and she was happy to oblige for the expectant Newcastle crowd on Tuesday night.

“That one was mainly for the fans because everyone has been asking this week, so just for the fans,” Kerr said.

Matildas coach Alen Stajcic said: “She’s so dangerous; she’d be such a hard person to mark. Her movement on and off the ball is amazing. She’s probably the best reader of dangerous spaces in women’s football.”

AAP