Women’s World Cup: Matildas’ destiny written in the stars? Try the suburbs and the bush
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson talks about his team’s story being ‘written in the stars’. But their birth certificates reveal their journeys began at places far less glittering.
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson talks about his team’s story being “written in the stars”.
When you look at what’s written on their birth certificates, you see their journeys began at places far less glittering. The humbleness of home.
They want young folks to understand you can make it from anywhere. Because that’s what they’ve done. Come from all corners.
Kerr was born and bred in Perth. She was famous for being Daniel Kerr’s sister before he became known as Sam Kerr’s brother.
Mary Fowler is from Cairns. Clare Hunt, Ellie Carpenter and Tameka Yallop are from rural NSW. Cortnee Vine learned the art of penalties out at Shepparton in country Victoria.
Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold and forward Hayley Raso are from the Gold Coast.
The Matildas, now one match from a World Cup final against Spain, hail from the western suburbs of Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Shellharbour, Adelaide, Moe, Grenfell, Cowra, Coffs Harbour. Reserve goalkeeper Lydia Williams is from Katanning, about 280km southeast out the back of Perth, which is out the back of nowhere.
If you can make it from there, you can make it from … you know the rest. The message is that if you have a ball, a patch of grass, a bit of talent and a dream, you have a shot. Don’t look at World Cup games being played in the big smoke and think you’re a long shot if you’re not already there.
Carpenter comes from the sticks but she’s living proof that if you’re good enough, you can find a way. Pathways are building across all junior sports and if you keep putting your best foot forward, you’ll be discovered and sent on your way to a Matildas shirt, a Socceroos shirt, a Test cricket baggy green, an Olympic tracksuit – whatever you’re after.
Carpenter gets so emotional when talking about the Matildas’ rise that she nearly cries.
“When I was growing up, I was in a boys team, I didn’t even have a girls team,” she says. “I went and watched the Matildas when I was 12 years old and I think there were 300 people in the stadium. But that still made me want to play for Australia … If I was a 12-year-old now in Stadium Australia and seeing sold-out crowds and how amazing it is – how far we’ve all come is unimaginable.”
When a team comes from all corners, it represents all corners. Olympic swimmers are mostly born doing tumble turns on the Gold Coast. The running joke is that men’s cricketers from NSW get a baggy green Test cap in the mail. Funny, because it’s always sort of rung true. AFL careers are born mostly in Victoria, NRL careers in NSW and Queensland. The Matildas are truly national, with apologies to Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
Unimaginable, says Carpenter. But doable from anywhere. “I’m so proud to be part of this generation,” she says. “What we have done, to change women’s sport in Australia, not just football but all sports … when we rock up to our games and see everyone in our jerseys and screaming support, it’s just so touching and honestly, it makes me a bit emotional. It’s just so amazing because this is what we wanted to do. We wanted to inspire the next generation and pave the way.”
More Coverage
