Matildas stars say heartwarming change from team’s training camp is secret weapon that will give them edge when World Cup kicks off: ‘Everyone is an aunt now’
- Katrina Gorry, Tameka Yallop Praises Camp Setup
- Stars in action for a friendly against France on Friday evening
- Matildas World Cup opener next Thursday night
There have been many personnel changes in the Matildas locker room over the last four years.
But it’s the smallest inclusions that have a special impact in the run-up to the Women’s World Cup.
Gun midfielder Katrina Gorry gave birth to daughter Harper in 2021 and Kirsty, wife of good Tameka Yallop, a former New Zealand international, gave birth to daughter Harley in 2020.
Harper, Harley, Kirsty, and Gorry’s mother Linda have all been involved in recent Matildas camps.
“It’s very different and nobody really knew what to expect at the first camp we had both kids in — and it was really welcoming,” Yallop said.
Matildas star Katrina Gorry (pictured center with her daughter Harper and fiancé Clara Markstedt, back) says it’s “pretty special” that her girl gets to grow up with her teammates
Tameka Yallop (pictured right, with wife Kirsty and their daughter Harley) believes having kids at camp helps players get a much-needed mental break from football
“It was more about allowing family in at meals and when we are used to having strict team protocols, allowing family and a caregiver to be in and around that.
“Those are the adjustments that take a bit of time, especially maybe for support staff or someone who always thinks about football to relax and try to get the family members involved.
“That has been the biggest change. Then, of course, there’s a lot of logistics involved when traveling with young children – car seats and pushchairs as well as food catering for them.’
At first glance, the rigidity of a high-performance environment and the flexibility young children need seem at odds.
Instead, they coexisted beautifully.
“Just having young kids, whether they’re laughing or having a tantrum, you forget football for a second and it’s relaxing,” Yallop said.
Gorry (pictured with a young fan as the Matildas got their World Cup jerseys on Tuesday) says ‘the room lights up a bit’ as the stars’ children walk through the door
Matildas vice-captain Steph Catley said having toddlers at training camp has brought ‘a lot of calm’ to the team ahead of the World Cup (pictured, Tameka Yallop with a young Aussie fan)
“At the same time, it pulls everyone together. Everyone is now an aunt and you can feel it.
“It certainly changed the whole environment and possibly even gave us a small advantage in the high performance because we are able to switch off and also feel something different emotionally as well as just 100 per cent football.”
Yallop joked that Harley refers to the Matildas as her “teammates,” while Teagan Micah and Charli Grant consider Gorry and Harper to be their family in Sweden.
Vice Captain Steph Catley said the toddlers brought “much peace” to the Matildas’ camp.
‘When they [Harley and Harper] When you walk through the door, the room lights up a little,’ said Gorry.
“You forget the thoughts that are in your head when you get caught up in something that happened during a workout or a win, loss or draw.
They will always have a smile on their face.
“It definitely changed camp life for many of us. People want to hang out with the babies instead of sitting in their room and maybe thinking about the game.
“It’s pretty special to know that she can grow up with a lot of these girls and look up to them.”