Sam Kerr in the running after standout showing

Matildas’ captain Sam Kerr’s athletic brilliance is breathtaking but it’s her leadership has seen Australia’s most loved sports team reach great heights.

Matildas captain Sam Kerr. Picture: Getty Images

The Matildas stormed their way into the hearts of the nation and at the helm was the extraordinary Sam Kerr.

She captained a team that ­embodied humility, perseverance, determination and belief but, as Kerr said, leading the Matildas was and is never about her.

Kerr is the ultimate team player. On the eve of the World Cup, she spoke about how she was ­inspired by the women who played alongside her and said it was a team without ego.

“I look up to so many of the girls and to lead them out is an honour,” Kerr said.

“I think that’s the great part about this team, that everyone plays their part. Everyone could wear the captain’s armband. There are no egos in this team, it’s all about making sure the team succeeds.”

Kerr is an easy selection for The Australian’s Australian Of The Year.

Even though Kerr was injured during part of the tournament, some in the Matildas camp noted that she served as a proxy coach at times.

Players would often go to her for advice on how to get the win. Rather than wallowing in her ­injury, it was again evidence of her team-first attitude.

“I definitely do it (ensure everyone is recognised) consciously,” Kerr told matildas.com.au. “But mostly, I do it because that’s what I believe, I think that every single person plays a part.”

“Whether it’s me, Caitlin (Foord), or anyone scoring, there’s always someone who made a tackle to get you the ball and someone who passed the ball. There are always people sitting on the bench that support you, get you water, or are there when someone is injured. It’s a team ­effort.

“I’m never one to put myself on a pedestal and say it was all me, because I don’t believe that at all. I know how important every ­single person is on our team, even beyond the players, the staff, our family, everything that goes into being the best team that we can be, goes beyond just the 23 players in the squad.”

And when Kerr did take the pitch, one of the World Cup highlights was her spectacular goal against England in the semi-final. A reminder of why she has won the Golden Boot multiple times. It sent the home stadium into raptures. The looping, long-range goal equalised scores but it wasn’t enough to propel the Matildas into their first ever World Cup final.

While there were tears upon defeat, the Matildas’ impact, on Kerr’s watch, was history-making and changed the Australian sporting landscape for the better.

We encourage our readers to put in a nomination for The Australian’s Australian of the Year, which was first won in 1971 by economist HC “Nugget” Coombs. Prominent Australians can be nominated by filling out the form above, or sending an email to [e-mail]. Nominations close on Friday, January 19.