Women’s Asian Cup: Sam Kerr, Mary Fowler among the Matildas’ five most important players

On the eve of the Women’s Asian Cup on home soil, with their first major trophy in 16 years within reach, these are the five Matildas who will shape their destiny.

Sam Kerr

The likes of Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Hayley Raso and even Amy Sayer have lifted the burden on the Matildas’ most well-known player.

But the Australian captain remains one of their most important players, particularly with no other strikers in the squad banging down the door for a starting berth.

After 20 months out of the game with a knee injury, Kerr’s return to action has been careful. She has not quite grabbed on-pitch headlines in the manner she did pre-knee injury, but her record of 10 goals in 23 games for Chelsea this season is something most strikers would take in an instant.

Her game-time with the Matildas since Joe Montemurro took over has been limited, but even the mere threat of Kerr and the attention she commands from defenders opens up space for others.

Mary Fowler

Very few Australians, male or female, possess the X-factor Fowler brings to a pitch; technically and tactically adept, the attacking midfielder is uniquely brilliant.

It may seem like a risk to bring her in underdone off the back of her torn ACL, but her 60-minute showing for Manchester City on the eve of the tournament will have eased fears.

And this is no Kyah Simon situation at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, where coach Tony Gustavsson brought her in fresh off a torn ACL, only for the striker to not feature once.

Simon was a depth option at best, but Fowler, even lacking fitness and working her way back from a serious knee injury, could win you a game in a cameo showing with just one moment of inspiration.

Do not expect Fowler to dominate, but that does not mean she does not have magic within her reach.

Caitlin Foord

When people think about Matildas attackers, they immediately go straight to Kerr or Fowler, but Arsenal forward Foord is right there with them in terms of importance.

Foord does not necessarily win through sheer physical presence nor breathtaking technical ability — she wins through a mixture of everything, combining smarts, speed, experience and being clinical in the final third.

She has been the perfect foil to Kerr for most of their intertwined international career, the pair’s chemistry combining to often devastating effect.

With Kerr still not yet showing the same form she did pre-ACL injury, Foord’s unerring consistency and ability to draw defenders away from her teammate is Australia’s biggest weapon hiding in plain sight.

Steph Catley

They say availability may be the best ability — but reliability is not far behind, and it is something Catley brings in spades.

However, where vice-captain Catley lines up will be one of the most intriguing tactical decisions Montemurro will make; if Catley plays in her typical left-back position, the role Matildas fans have become accustomed to, she will offer reliable distribution and defensive solidarity.

But the Arsenal defender has played centrally and is an option for Montemurro in the heart of defence, where her leadership and assuredness can shine.

Either option throws up selection conundrums — if she plays centrally, is it Clare Hunt or Winonah Heatley who sits next to her? If she plays on the left, does Montemurro opt for Amy Sayer or even Kaitlyn Torpey on the left wing?

Regardless of where she plays, the coach and Matildas can rest assured she will likely be good.

Katrina Gorry

It is fair to say, since the Women’s World Cup, Australia had not seen the best of Gorry, their deep-lying midfield playmaker — not that her form dropped off a cliff, but she was not quite the driving force she once was.

But late last year, the Matildas’ 5-0 win over New Zealand served as Gorry’s version of Michael Jordan’s famous ‘I’m Back’ letter.

Whether it was her off-ball movement to create space for others, her constant availability as an outlet for under-duress teammates or her passing in the first third to progress the ball up the pitch, she was excellent.

Joe Montemurro’s midfield make-up is something which bears watching and he could opt for two of Gorry, Cooney-Cross, Everton stand-out Clare Wheeler or even Alanna Kennedy to run his engine room.

But an in-form Gorry, with her experience and footballing intelligence, provides a different dimension to the others.