“Most people in their career don’t get to play one home tournament, so the fact we get two opportunities is an incredible honour. I’m just really looking forward to being in a tournament and not talking about my left calf, talking about the football and being back to playing – and I’ve had a long journey from my ACL return.”
One pretty big one she managed (again) to avoid altogether, via a shrewd TV grab-worthy answer to a question clearly referencing her London court case without spelling it out.
“A lot’s happened off the field for you as well between the World Cup and now,” the journalist prodded. “Can you talk a bit about how challenging that has been mentally, especially given you’re all in the spotlight, and you couldn’t really hide what was going on?”
Kerr didn’t miss a beat.
“The thing for me that I look back on the most is Jagger,” she answered, referring to her nine-month-old son. “I think it’s been an incredible year for me, and although there’s been a lot of downsides with my knee and stuff, having a child gives you the greatest gift in life. So I feel like I’ve had really good friends, really good family, a lot of support from football around me.”
Sam Kerr is regaining confidence and fitness just in time for the Asian Cup.Credit: Getty Images
On Jagger, born last May with wife Kristie Mewis, Kerr was rapt Sunday’s tournament opener against the Philippines doubled as the “first time being a mum playing in Perth, so that’s special”. There was talk about the Perth local’s return to WA – a geographical difference between now and then.
Kerr had “crossed every finger and toe for the World Cup to be in Perth, but didn’t come true. The next best thing is the Asian Cup. Not only is the Asian Cup, one of the biggest trophies for us is the [2027] World Cup qualification.”
And of course, there’s also been the ACL and that infinite rehab with all those setbacks. Australia’s preeminent striker is finally injury-free and fast regaining confidence after some recent goals for Chelsea.
“Don’t want to say I’m at 100 per cent yet,” she said. “I haven’t had one of those games yet where I felt completely myself, but I think about 85 per cent and above. It’s been a long journey, but I think after missing out on the Olympics my main goal was to be here at the Asian Cup, so it’s all been worth it.”
And finally, the full circle narrative. Of the Matildas’ only remaining member of the squad who won the 2010 Asian Cup – the last major trophy. Of a 16-year-old backflipping striker scoring her first international goals in some of her first caps, having debuted the year before.
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“That makes me sad that I’m the last one standing,” Kerr said. “That to this day is one of the best moments in my football and career. I had the most fun ever at that tournament. I didn’t expect to play. I went on, I had a really big impact and people think I played multiple minutes there because I scored in the final. I remember I sat on the bench for the first two games. So you never know when your opportunity will come and you just have to take it with both hands.
“I know how much this team wants to win something together. I know how much every player wants to win something for the Matildas. But I think for me, just reflecting back on the tournament, going in as a dark course helped us as a national team.
“Now with the pressure that I guess the Matildas carry, I think we’ve just tried to not talk about it. Not talk about winning, just talk about one game at a time. That’s what we did back in 2010. I think that will help take the pressure off ourselves. I know how much everyone wants to win this tournament, of course, but we don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves. There’s a lot of great teams in our path and we just have to take it one game at a time.”
