The CommBank Matildas’ journey started well before the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, but the team’s performance in the global tournament captured Australia’s attention and united the nation in a sporting moment on par with Cathy Freeman winning gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. CommBank Matildas’ merch sold out across the country and streets were empty at match time. Anyone not already following the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 before the penalty shootout between Australia and France, certainly was after Cortnee Vine kicked the match-winning penalty, progressing them to the semi-final.
“Even with social media, we didn’t realise just how big it [FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023] was until after we got out of camp,” expressed Andreatta. With the increased attention, the ups and downs of competition, managing energy levels, along with mental and physical health remained paramount.
“Even with social media, we didn’t realise just how big it [FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023] was until after we got out of camp."
For newer or younger players, Andreatta describes a “big sister wisdom”, which is passed down from the leadership cohort. Learning to manage public attention, deal with wins and losses, and to generally navigate the lifestyle of playing elite football, takes time and experience. For senior players, stepping into a mentor role is considered both a rite of passage and privilege.
Communication and interaction off the field are cultivated through a different kind of play – mainly ping pong and Bananagrams. “It’s a bit of fun,” says Andreatta, explaining how games like these can help break the ice, bring on a laugh and allow for casual check-ins.
Rest and recovery are a priority for everyone within the CommBank Matildas’ set-up – players and staff alike – with a shared understanding that great success and maintaining peak performance requires taking time to recharge. When asked what their general schedule was like, Andreatta described it as “extremely demanding”, with days packed with a combination of training, reviews, media and active recovery.
Rest and recovery are a priority for everyone within the CommBank Matildas’ set-up – players and staff alike – with a shared understanding that great success and maintaining peak performance requires taking time to recharge.
The women’s international playing windows are longer than men’s, meaning teams spend greater periods on the road. And with Australia being further away than most, time at home can be even more limited for the CommBank Matildas. It’s a tough schedule that requires support, especially for those with children. New parental leave benefits have made a significant, tangible difference, with what Andreatta describes as, “a great return medically, physically and for morale, too.” Without these provisions, juggling elite sport and motherhood would be near impossible. “There’s been a lot of progress here for women’s sport,” states Andreatta on the positive strides forward made in this space.
Andreatta emphasised that quality time with loved ones is a priority in supporting all players through the season. “Connection with their families is so important,” she says. “When they could be, families were close by at matches, supporting from the dugout. They even surprised some of the players with family and friends in their hotel rooms when they weren’t expecting it.”
While there are structures for the collective around managing energy, Andreatta and the coaching and support staff ensure individual needs are always considered, so everyone can perform at their best given any circumstances. “It’s important to have the context of what’s going on in players’ lives off the pitch,” stated Andreatta. “There’s this idea that professionalism means you have to tick certain boxes, be a certain way, almost like a soldier. But that discipline and commitment needs a parallel where you acknowledge your external life.”
“It’s important to have the context of what’s going on in players’ lives off the pitch,” stated Andreatta. “There’s this idea that professionalism means you have to tick certain boxes, be a certain way, almost like a soldier. But that discipline and commitment needs a parallel where you acknowledge your external life.”
At the same time, some of the responsibility also sits with the players to identify what they need, to either downregulate or upregulate – “whether they need to charge harder, or relax,” says Andreatta.
She describes an “intuition” that the squad’s common goals would come to fruition, and that she “always felt there was something special with this group.”
Their dedication to each other, the game, their own longevity, and plenty of hard work, are the key ingredients to the CommBank Matildas’ success so far – and for what Andreatta is positive will be an even greater future.
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