Matildas: The World at Our Feet (2023): Season 1, Episode 6 - A Lasting Legacy - full transcript

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I grew up completely in the bush.

Learned how to kick barefoot
in the desert and stuff like that.

Back then,
football was just a sport.

There wasn't really
any teams that you supported.

Not for girls, anyway.

We didn't have
a role model in women's football.

Or any sport.

Away,
Freeman out well, a mighty roar

- surrounds the stadium.

When you're watching
Cathy Freeman at 2000,

that just kind of, ignited my dreams.



Freeman's got work to do here.

There's about 150 to go.

At the time, I was just amazed.

Cathy, lifting.

Blown away that
every single person in the country

could be talking about one person
and she was a female athlete.

As I sat in my room
as a 9-year-old and watched her,

that inspired me to,

one, be proud of who I am
but also to follow my sporting dreams

to play football for Australia.

Freeman takes the lead.

It's there for Kerr.

This is a famous victory.

That's the most exciting thing
about hosting the World Cup.



I got inspired by, you know,

an Indigenous woman running.

I hope that I can inspire someone else.

Two, three,

four, five... Ahhh!

We want to be
that changing point for young girls

to look back on and go, "Yeah,

"I remember watching the Matildas
play at the World Cup."

I remember being like,
dang, that's what I wanna do.

I think it's honestly been...

I've been driving out to Morapoi
since I was like...

young, I reckon, like, 12, 13.

So, it's definitely been
over 20 years since I've been out bush.

Dad got sick and passed away.

It just was so painful
to come back out here.

But, you know,
now I'm ready to see, kind of,

my childhood and family
and connect again to country.

Right now, we're outside of Kalgoorlie,

driving our way to a...
I guess a sheep station, cattle station,

called Morapoi.

So, my Uncle Greg,

he runs it.

We used to always
go there with Mom and Dad.

So, we're gonna go revisit it.

It's just... It's red dirt.

And, like, red dust. It gets everywhere.

But it's so natural and peaceful.

That's why it's so beautiful out here.

It's just nothingness.

Good girl, come on. Good girl.

Lydia used to have a dog, too.
Her and her father.

Didn't they, Tiger?

I've known Lydia 33 years.

Since she was a tiny baby, actually.

Her dad, Guda, we call him Guda,

Guda and I was really good friends.

He'd be over the moon
that his only daughter

has got this far
at the highest level in sport.

- Hello, Lydia.
- How are you?

- Haven't seen you in forever.
- You know.

Oh, dear.

Good to see you.

- Oh, dear.

- You don't have to cry.
- I'm not.

Just emotional for your dad.

Thinking about you.

- Yous wanna have a feed?
- Yeah.

Gotta have a little feed

- when you come to the bush.
- Yeah.

Of course.

All the sandalwood nuts.

I remember eating these, actually.

Did your dad ever
get to see you play with the Matildas?

No, he just missed out.

If your dad was,
you know, alive at the time,

he'd be so proud of you even now.

Dad passed away when I was 15.

But he grew up in the Stolen Generation.

So, we don't know who his father is.

And he was the first Indigenous people
to go to school in Australia.

He left 'cause he was bullied and racially

abused quite a bit.

He never really had a job,
didn't get an education.

There was a lot of heartache in his life

and he turned to alcohol.

But then a missionary came to...

When he was in Western Australia,
set him on the straight and narrow,

and Dad became
the traveling preacher, like, bushman.

And then, so, him and Mom
got introduced on one night and...

That was it.
They wrote letters to each other

and he proposed to her after three months.

Me and my mom, we miss him.

But it's only made us closer.

We've named
this little room after your dad.

So we call it
the Guda-Ron Training Center.

Oh, wow!
- There's your dad.

- Up there.
Where was that at?

I think that was at my wedding.

- Really?
- Yeah.

Connecting with Uncle Greg
and everything,

I mean, they just were such a big part of

my family's life back in the desert.

Your dad was incredible.

You know, he took us lots of places.

Did lots of things.

My dad, like,
going through a lot of hardships.

I think that's one thing
that's driven me through my career.

So, yeah, it's really kind of
special for me to get back out here

and relearn things and learn new things.

You haven't lost the touch
for lighting fires.

When you get a little bit like,
leaving the game, what are you thinking?

There's so much to learn
still about Aboriginal culture.

- Mmm-hmm.
- Not just here but everywhere.

I'd like to still learn a lot about it

and kinda see what happens from there.

I just wanna go out there
and kinda inspire people.

Like Cathy Freeman.

Just kinda live the best way that I can

and show, like,
love and care and support and everything.

You do inspire other people.

You may not think it's happening
but it actually does.

You can do it, like this fella.
He's hanging around here tonight.

- Day with a champion.
- Yeah.

He's gonna start being a footballer.

That's how it all begins, you know?

Keep the pace!

You go again, go blue.

I feel like we're late.

I know. Jonas is gonna have a stroke.

I think what makes our team
so special and so strong

is the hardships that we've been through.

It just forms a bond
and a connection that's

stronger than you could imagine.

Shit, they already
got their boots on and ready to go.

Good. Now pop up.

It's actually crazy to think about

how tough it has been to succeed.

Warm-up, right?

I grew up with my mom,

who raised me and my sister
as a single parent.

Mom didn't work,
she was getting Centrelink

and on the dole and stuff like that.

So that, in itself, is challenging.

But one day I said to Mom,

"Can I join and play soccer?"

So I went down to my local team

and had a trial.

And in the game,
I scored six goals, and...

I think all the dads and the coaches
were saying that I was good.

And then, I continued to play.

I was selected to train
with the under-17s Young Matildas.

But we didn't have the funding.

Yeah, Mom found a way to make that happen.

We would sell chocolates
to raise money and stuff like that,

and at the time, yeah,
I completely hated it,

but my bus driver on the way home,

if I didn't sell them all,
he'd buy the rest.

There were struggles along the way,

but for me and Mom as well,
it was all worth it in the end now.

That's mine.

Keep it in, keep it in.

In the national team,

we've all been through
almost the same experiences.

Family and friends
that sacrifice, obviously, a lot for us.

Hello.

Hello.

Hi, bubba!

Hello.

Hi, Calvin.

What'd you get?

Just bought some stuff for dinner,
just salami. Like a cold...

Like a cold dinner 'cause it's so hot.

He's been a very good boy today.

Have you been a good boy? Come here...

Dean, we had been dating
for three-ish years I think,

when I decided that
Europe was the next step for me.

I'd been talking
to Arsenal for a little while.

Lovely.
- And this all looks really nice.

He was playing in Australia, in Melbourne.

Looks decent, to be fair.

Just absolutely killing it.

But he just wanted to put me first.

So he took a bit of a risk
and a sacrifice to come over

and we came over at the same time

and I'm really glad that I've got him
supporting me doing what I'm doing now.

How was your day?

Just chilled with him,
took him for a walk.

Walked off his lead on his own for a bit.

- Did you?
- Right by me.

Right, didn't you? You're a good boy.

- He's getting much better, to be fair.
- Yeah, I know.

Steph's career speaks for itself so...

You know, she's one
of the best in the world,

so I can't compete
and say I'm one of the best.

I'm not saying it
'cause she's my girlfriend

but she's a top professional.

That's the reason she's done
what she's done in her career.

Hundred-plus games for her country.

Top clubs in the world
and there's a reason she's there.

She's something special.

- We're Liverpool fans.
- Sometimes.

Big Liverpool fans, so when they play,

- we watch that together.
- You outed me.

- What?
- I play for Arsenal.

- Oh, yeah. Cut.

Doesn't matter,
you can be a Liverpool fan.

Definitely think they can make history.

They've got top players
like Sammy, Caitlin,

all over the pitch,
that are world-class. Ellie as well.

So, yeah, with the backing
of the Australian crowd and...

- What?

And of course, she's number one.

Cheers, mate, appreciate it.

Football is his world.

So, that sacrifice...

I know how special it is.

It's incredible.

How's Ellie doing,
after what happened

in the Champions League final?

How's her knee? She all right?

Yeah, she's...
Still early days in her rehab,

but, yeah, she's gonna be...
You know Ellie, she's like...

Good professional.

Good professional
but she's also very much like,

-"I'll be back at this point."
- Yeah.

So, she's just gotta

make sure not to rush it,
does it right, but she'll be back.

She's important, very important.

Extremely important.

Hey, buddy.

Right now, I'm about
four months post-surgery.

I've just started running again
a few times here with the club.

It feels so nice to be running again.

Thinking long-term,
I'm definitely on track for the World Cup.

I don't wanna jinx myself,

but everything's going well
and I'm happy with where I'm at.

I think just not getting ahead of myself

and staying patient is gonna be
the most important thing for me.

When I ran for the first time,
I got a little bit emotional.

Yeah, it's just really nice
to feel like an athlete again, you know?

Ellie is the type of person,

she has her mind set on this

and she's gonna be back at this time

and I have no doubt that
she'll be ready for the World Cup.

We miss her grittiness on the pitch
but we also miss

her silliness off the pitch.

She's a character.

Makes everyone laugh with just who she is.

We need everyone fit
and everyone firing for this World Cup.

Matildas star
Kyah Simon is in doubt

for next year's Women's Football World Cup

after suffering a serious knee injury
playing for her English club, Tottenham.

The 31-year-old ruptured
her anterior cruciate ligament

and had to be stretchered off the field.

This is devastating for
the Matildas and especially for Kyah.

An ACL, like, less than
a year out from the World Cup,

it's just a brutal blow for Kyah,

who's been such a great stalwart
of the Matildas side.

Yeah, it's definitely been
a challenging couple of weeks post-op,

definitely with pain and aches
and not sleeping much,

but super excited
to get back into a routine,

start smashing my rehab.

Everyone's support has been immense

and I'm so grateful for that.

So many people have sent me messages

and sharing their love and support,

so hopefully, it's a smooth-sailing rehab.

I'm missing the Matildas girls

but been watching them from afar
and being their biggest fan

while I haven't
been there in camp with them.

This is a huge challenge
for the Matildas.

That's one fewer striker for them
and more pressure on Sam.

So, this is Richmond.

I've lived here for two years,
I absolutely love it.

Open spaces, the coffee's great here.

And, I mean, look at the views,
they speak for themselves.

I think it's just the open spaces for me.

I mean, London's so dense
and the hustle and bustle,

it's nice to come out here
and get away from it all.

Go and have somewhere to relax.

I live in a one-bedroom apartment.
I don't have a backyard.

I go down there and watch families,
people playing with their dogs.

It reminds me the most of home.

- Hey, how's it going?
- Hello.

Could I just get a latte, please?
Just a regular.

It's really an escape from
the pressures of scoring goals constantly.

Sam Kerr might just be
the biggest name in women's football,

becoming the first female
to feature on the global cover

of a FIFA video game.

Sam Kerr knows how to play.

It's about the passion on the pitch.

Some pest has come
on to the field harassing the players.

She has just absolutely clocked him.

Like, he has gone down, flat on his arse.

The least he deserved
was the general vibe.

Had a rush of blood,
but probably shouldn't have done it.

Matildas captain
Sam Kerr has finished third

for the women's Ballon d'Or
for the female soccer player of the year.

The Australian led
the Women's Super League in scoring.

Sam Kerr has been
absolutely relentless.

As a kid, like, I never had dreams
to do things that were like this.

But I just wanna win a major tournament

with the national team.

It's the only thing missing
in my life right now.

And what means the most to me.

All the girls, like,
I've probably spent more time with them

than I have my brothers
and sisters, to be honest.

I've known them since I was like, 13, 14.

They're my closest friends.

We've been through so much together.

I don't know, we're just cheeky kids,

just young, enjoying what we did.

We went away overseas
at young ages together

and just to experience it all was nice

and, yeah, today we're still
all really, really close friends.

We had the best time,
and from that point,

I knew that's where I want to be,
on that journey with them.

If we win the World Cup, like,
that would just be everything.

I wouldn't feel, for a very long time,
that I needed anything to fulfil me.

Gorry takes over.

Gorry, from distance.

Foord.

- Now, it's the third.

Caitlin Foord getting in on the act.

And there goes the full-time whistle.

Everyone needed that win.

If we keep this standard,

we will be raring to go for the World Cup.

Good morning, everyone.

So if you go back to when we started this,

we have played the toughest schedule
in the history of this program,

and at the same time,
we introduced 17 debutants.

So, let's narrow down
and have this last year

as a World Cup laser focus.

I'll show you a few clips to begin with.

Why it's so important

that we start getting more consistency,

cohesion, chemistry,
we got the foundation now.

This is Sweden, last year, the Olympics.

I'll just take that one, sorry. There.

The result on the scoreboard

might not have been what we want it to be,

but we learned a lot.

For a lot of the players,

the Olympics is a time
that we look back on and we think

that was a time we were
so gelled together as one.

You can see the gaps here.

We all felt prepared.

We were at peak fitness.

We were playing our best.

Break the line
with good-timed runs.

Fourth place
really showed who we were.

We announced ourselves on the world stage.

We were so close
to getting to the gold medal match.

It was a roller-coaster night
of emotions for our Olympians.

The Matildas knocked out
of the running for gold.

It was devastating
to not get to that point.

The Matildas
were robbed last night

in their semi-final against Sweden.

Goal to Sam Kerr disallowed.

We genuinely thought
we had a shot here.

It's sad when you lose
the chance to play for a gold medal.

Nobody would be feeling it
more than Sam Kerr in that moment.

That's probably one of

the biggest opportunities missed

in, like, my career, probably,

and it's something
that I always, like, think about.

I think especially in the end
'cause we only lost by one goal.

I'm not an emotional person over football,

and I was really crying after that game.

I'd given everything to my country.

We saw at the Olympics, we're unstoppable,

like, we competed
with the best teams in the world

and we need to get back to that level.

Before you go out,
I want Caitlin,

Sam, Ras and Vine
to stay for another three minutes.

Put that clip up.

What, for the four of you,

what's the key
to be successful in this, you feel?

If Caitlin or me decide to go,
we have to have everyone come with us

- or they tell us to hold.
Yeah.

What I think is important,
don't wait for them to say what to do.

- If you feel it's on, you're going.
- Yeah.

Then they have to say,
"Stop, I'm not with you,"

but you shouldn't wait for a signal,
then it's too late.

Yeah, we all feel,
when we go, that's when we're the best.

That's what,
nine out of ten times, we should.

- Yeah?
Okay.

Cool?
Good.

There we go.

All right, let's go. Let's move.

The Matildas just
eight months out from co-hosting

the Women's World Cup,
the biggest single sporting event

that this country will host
since the Sydney Olympics.

Being women ourselves,

you see the men, they get all the push

and then the women now,
you're finally getting there.

Finally getting up there, like, yes.

- The World Cup's here next year.
- Next year.

- It's great. Can't wait.
- Hope you got your ticket, I do!

Go Matillys.

And this afternoon, a huge test

against the might of European powerhouse
Sweden, world number twos,

Olympic Games silver medalist.

Yeah, they are up against it,
very tough opponent,

but we're the underdogs.

This is Australia,
we always punch above our weight,

and this is it,
this is the arena to do it in.

Big game against Sweden.

All our games leading up
to the World Cup are crucial,

so, pretty excited, little nervous,

but I'm hearing over 22,000 today as well,

so that will be like
a sea of yellow behind the girls.

Very exciting.

Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome as they come up,

Sarah Walsh, the head of Women's Football,
Women's World Cup Legacy

- and inclusion at Football Australia.

I honestly never thought
I'd be in a role like this.

But since I played for the Matildas,

I've always wanted the game to be better.

I've always wanted to make sure
that I was, you know, making moves

and working with people
to ensure that I was in a position

to influence the outcomes for women.

Sarah, it's been a massive 2022,

how are we tracking
on all things Legacy '23?

Yeah, really, really well but plenty to do
in the lead-up to the World Cup.

But I often get asked, "What is Legacy?"
And I think, simply put,

it's leaving more than memories,
than the actual World Cup itself.

This major event is no doubt gonna bring
excitement and joy to our community,

but it's really about economic
and social change for our game

and leaving it in a better way
than it was prior to the event.

When I think about the World Cup
in my role,

I think I personally feel
a great deal of responsibility.

Australian football needs to be better off

as a result of hosting
this major and massive event.

Touch out at our feet.

A bit closer into the box.

I think it's crucially important

that a young girl
can turn up to a community club

and she can see a female coach.

They're not good with their feet.

She can see a female administrator.

Because only until we see
that true equality there,

we're not gonna grow our participation.

And we have a bold target
to reach 50/50 by 2027.

I think we're gonna get there quicker
by hosting this World Cup.

We're already
feeling such a buzz every time we go home.

It's growing momentum,

the crowds we're getting...

So many more facilities
are built for the tournament.

And that's good for women in sport,

good for young girls
coming through who have a change room now

or an actual field to play on,

a girls team to play on.

Already the processes of growing the game
in Australia has already started,

just from preparing for the tournament.

Once it's happening
and they're looking at their idols

and they're getting inspired,

that's just gonna go through the roof.

What are we doing?
That's our time. Here we go!

All right,
let's circle up, everyone.

Head, we know the tactics,
trust the game plan.

Heart, show what we're about.

Energy from the first minute,
we're gonna outrun this team.

Use the energy from the stand,

set the tone,
the rehearsal for the World Cup,

we know what we are.
Be true to who we are,

from first minute to last minute.

Attack, attack again and attack again.

Let's go, let's get this done.

It's a legacy. It's not just
about the Matildas that are there today,

it's the people
that walked the path before them

and everything that people have done

to put the Matildas where they are today.

The veteran,
Clare Polkinghorne,

will lead this side out in her 150th.

Let's go, come on, girls.

Polks is just the epitome
of the Matildas,

that never-say-die attitude,
that Australian spirit.

She doesn't speak much,
but when she speaks, everyone listens.

I love representing Australia
and playing for this team

and it's pretty much been my whole life.

So, to do it 150 times
is something that I'm really proud of.

She spent half her life
as a Matilda, Clare Polkinghorne.

And this is a fantastic milestone.

Katrina Gorry out there
with little Harper in her arms.

I definitely want to use
the World Cup

to be a platform for us as moms.

To be a mom and an athlete should,

you know,
showcase the fact that we are superwomen.

Show people that it is possible that

you can be a mom, you can be an athlete,

and we now have the support there

and we can keep on growing as

females in sport and outside as well.

Having passed the test
against Denmark last month in Europe,

the Matildas now get to measure themselves

against world's footballing elite
in Sweden.

Just eight months out from the World Cup.

Sweden feel like

they're starting to build
with more momentum.

Too simple!

Here's Janogy again,

who's really playing
in between the lines, finding space.

Turns well.

And Courtney Nevin, ball back post,

the header down
from Jakobsson was brilliant.

How about the defensive work
from Clare Polkinghorne?

Let's go, Polkinghorne!

Whoo!

Sam. Sam. Sam.

Tell Steph for a few minutes.
We wanna activate you and Caitlin more.

We play too much into pressure now.

Opposite movement from you and Caitlin,
opposite movement!

With Kerr.

For Gorry.

Good switch of play
but can't get past Kullberg.

Her header only finds Foord.

Caitlin Foord.

Holds on to the football, Raso now.

Running at Kullberg.

Raso still drives it in towards Kerr!

And Sam Kerr

pokes the ball home at the near post

to give the Matildas the lead.

Fuck yeah!

Goal number 60

in green and gold for Sam Kerr.

I love, like,
flying the flag for Australia,

proving that we are,
and can be, a footballing country.

I think my legacy is proving to the world

that Australia is not someone
that can just be forgotten about.

And I love the feeling of like,

succeeding and like,
doing great things with this team.

It's halftime in AAMI Park.

- For the Matildas to go on and win this,

is it more of the same or try
and hold Sweden a little more at bay?

Matildas one, Sweden nil.

Right, listen up.

Extremely important
halftime talk here now.

Don't be conservative.

Attack, attack and attack.

Same focus as we had in the beginning

and Caitlin and Sam, you lead that.

Yes? Let's go get this one, all right?

Yes!

Nice!

The Matildas
break again here.

Cooney-Cross.

Lovely football.

For Caitlin Foord.

- Go, Cait.
One on one.

Caitlin Foord.

Onto the right foot!

Oh, and that's two!

When I do step on the field,
I play for Mom.

For me, football has just
completely changed everything.

I owe everything to my mom
for what she's done for me.

And I hope my legacy is that

girls can just play freely
and not have to worry about

how they'll get there
and what they'll do to get there.

Mary Fowler's introduction

- receives a huge round of applause.

And now, Gorry.

Spraying the ball out wide for Kerr.

In for Fowler.

Into the area.

Still deflected.

Yes.

And the Matildas

are sweeping Sweden aside here.

For me to play
a home World Cup at such a young age,

it's an enormous opportunity.

I just wanna be able
to go out there and show that,

even at a young age,

people can perform at a high level.

And playing in front of my family
will be pretty awesome.

It's all about confidence now,
it's all about confidence, all right?

Play the game like...
We kill the time but it's confidence.

We dominate! Confidence!

Caitlin Foord.

Back with Polkinghorne.

Foord, goes again, good strength.

Kerr takes over.

Van Egmond.

Back for Foord.

It's wonderful!

It's beautiful!

Fabulous football.

And the Matildas
are running away with this one.

What a trio of players
we've heard before.

Kerr to van Egmond, van Egmond to Foord.

It's really special to see
how much people have grown up,

but then, also like,
how close we've all stayed.

We used to go to camp,
train twice a day and like, in between,

play football, muck around,
play, like, hide and seek.

We all just have that special bond.

That's the beauty of our team.

Eight months out
from co-hosting the World Cup,

on home soil,

the Matildas have claimed
a huge international scalp

in the form of European powerhouse Sweden

without conceding a goal.

And it's finished in Melbourne.

The Matildas four, Sweden nil.

This is the bravest team
I've ever worked with.

What I put you through
for the last one and a half years,

this is where we are right now.

The confidence
and the bravery you've shown

in the process and how you play.

Not just that we won the game,

but the way we won this game.

I'm so proud of you
but more so, so happy for you,

'cause you deserve it.

From every minute you've put in
to be where we are today,

to do this and have this feeling,

I'm the happiest of everyone for you,
'cause you really deserve it.

And the final one, Polks, where are you?

- Hundred and fifty caps.

I'm so happy to get
that win and that performance

and a clean sheet!

That's it.

Fucking relieved.

I mean, great. Four goals, clean sheet.

Doesn't get much better than that
to finish off a tough year.

Phenomenal, phenomenal.
Look at this girl, look at this girl.

When we play well, we can beat anyone.

Yeah, I think, you know,
we've been building to these performances,

we felt it, the goals just haven't come.

So, now it's nice, they're coming,

and we're getting some wins,
so I think it's great for us.

Couple of birthday goals.

So proud of you.

Every person has
the different way of looking at belief.

But for me,
belief for this team means that

they understand that
if we perform at our highest level

as individual and as a team,

we can beat anyone
in the world in any given day.

We have invested a lot of time
in this team as of the last year,

and even though it's not been easy,

I'm really proud
about the depth of the roster right now.

We've shown now what we can do.

Let's do it again and again
and again in the World Cup.

This team's just amazing.

When you see them
going through some hardships,

whether it's an injury and they need rehab
for a year to come back to the game,

or it's a family matter
that is tough for someone

and you see the commitment
they have to push through that

but also the support
they give each other to do it.

It creates a power and a drive
and a passion and motivation that is...

Makes it very hard to stop them.

Building up the suspense

Building up the suspense

Building up the suspense

Building up the suspense

For it's a grand old team to play for

For it's a grand old team to see

And if you know the history

It's enough to make your heart go

We don't care what the other teams say

What the hell do we care

This is unimaginable
for anyone 20 years ago.

And the Aussies will be there

That Australia could host
a World Cup,

that we could be, like, one of the best
countries in the world at football.

That we could have
this much investment, this much support.

Here we go, here we go

Here we go, here we go, here we go

All of this,
if you told me 20 years ago, like,

I would have never, ever believed it

and no one in the Matildas would have.

Hopefully, this is our first-ever
bit of silverware as a country,

but also, this is the start
of Australia being a footballing nation

and inspiring the world and like,

young girls, young boys, like,
every World Cup has got better

and I think, I hope Australia is a part

of the change
in women's football for good.