For Foord, being a Matilda is a rewarding journey of sacrifice, hardwork and dedication. Not just for her, but for her family as well.

“A lot of people in Australia and around the world know that in women's sport, it does take a lot of sacrifices. You don't really receive rewards until you reach the top. So I think it's just a determination of sticking with it,” Foord said.

“It's very easy in Australia to play the game until you're a teenager and then kind of get caught up with other things. To get past that, fall in love with the game and stick with it. I think that's what makes a Matilda.”

PLUS...

Revealed! The new Matildas kit - pic special

The Matildas are one of the most successful football teams in Australia’s history, if not the most successful. The journey has been full of hard work and determination, and now as they prepare for the momentous year ahead, they’ll be wearing their very own National Team Collection for the first time.
There’s possibly no gender difference with the elements of passion, love and distraction in the game, but what is different is downtime.

“I honestly can't remember the last time I've had any time off," Foord said.

“The last time was probably my injury and to be fair I don't really count that as time off. If anything that's more mentally and physically draining, coming back from a major injury.

“It's very difficult, but at the same time, we love playing the game. If I have any longer than a week off, I need to be going and when am I playing?

“There are pros and cons about it. You do see us get to a stage where you break down and have an injury because you are going 24 / 7. So hopefully, as the game grows, we do have an off season as well and I guess that comes with the growth of the game.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

It’s only crazy until you do it. #justdoit

A post shared by Caitlin Foord (@caitlinfoord) on

Foord comes from a family of strong women and reflects on how they have supported her and each other along the way across her journey.

She added: “Women have been [a strong influence] in my life ever since I was young.

“My mom was a single parent raising me and my nan was there to help her a lot along the way. I've been surrounded by women, and everything I've seen and learnt has been from women.

"Seeing my mom do the things that a mother and father would do is very inspiring for me."

Foord is also inspired by so many amazing women athletes as well and sees that the journey hasn’t finished, and the current Matildas must also play their part.

“It goes back to all those all those girls who played back in the day when they didn't have this," she said.

"I'm sure they're looking at what we get now and they're probably very, very happy for us, but at the same time, they would have loved to have that around in their game.

“That's why I say we never take any of it for granted. We know what it used to be like, and we want to leave the game in a better place than we left it.

“When we're sitting back looking like they are, we want to see instead of 10,000 fans, we want to see 25,000. It's the growth of the game. It doesn't start from the team. It's from generations ago."

Foord’s journey has already been many years in the making, starting with her debut for the Matildas in 2011 at age 16, to becoming the youngest ever Australian to play at a World Cup. Eight years later, the versatile striker has already seen positive change in the game.

“For me personally, and a lot of the other girls in the team, we've been in this wave from when I was first in the team having maybe 100 people in the game to having thousands now.

“For us, we appreciate the fans as much as they appreciate us. They make our game here in Australia and that's why you see us want to give back so much to them. They're making this journey enjoyable for us as well.

“To have people there and actually looking up to us, it's crazy. It still is very cool every game to see so many people there. Now seeing girls with our jerseys on, that's insane to me.

"I used to run around with someone's jersey on. Now to see someone in mine. It's cool, and I just want to give the time to them that they have given to come and watch us."

While there are no guarantees for any player to make the World Cup squad, one would expect Foord to feature, and for there to be plenty of fans wearing her jersey.