KERR STILL CALLS AUSTRALIA HOME

SUCCESS with Chelsea is helping homesick Matildas captain Sam Kerr deal with the prospect of another year away from Australia.

Kerr’s stocks continue to rise on the world stage after she helped Chelsea win the English Women’s Super League title with 21 goals that secured her a Golden Boot for the sixth time in her career.

There has been little time for celebrating, with Kerr and Chelsea back in action on

Sunday morning in the Champions League final against Barcelona in Gothenburg.

“It’s a long and hard journey.” Kerr said.

“This season’s been so long. There’s been so many ups and downs.

“There have been moments where I go ‘gosh, I just want to go home, I’m missing my family, it’s cold, it’s hard’ but winning titles ... makes it all worth it.

“It’s not all roses and butterflies for sure but I do it because I love it.” Kerr’s most recent trip to Australia was last year, and with the Tokyo Olympics on the horizon ahead of another WSL season with Chelsea, she’s not confident of coming home anytime soon in these COVID-19 times.

“It’s been nearly a year since I’ve been home and it looks like it’ll be another year until I get home without quarantine,” the 27-year-old Perth product said.

“Nothing compares to Australia. It’s just home, it’s just that feeling of being in your own space, the coffee and my family, and my dog ... it’s just the little things.”

Travel restrictions will prevent her family being at this weekend’s final but Kerr is at least satisfied her parents can watch the game live from home.

“Mum and Dad for sure would have been over here, my Nan probably too,” she said. “It’s disappointing but we’re lucky now that there’s so many ways they can watch women’s football.”