Fowler in the green and bold

Cairns product inspiring others in region

Teenage Matildas debutant Mary Fowler is inspiring the next generation of FNQ footballers. Matildas coach Alen Stajcic handed an international debut to the 15-year-old sensation on Friday morning as Australia reinforced their supremacy over Brazil with a 3-1 win to open their Tournament of Nations defence with a bang. “Our juniors ... it gives them something to aspire to after seing Mary achieve this,” said Leichhardt Juniors president Gavin Loeskow.

TEENAGE Matildas debutant Mary Fowler is inspiring the next generation of Far North footballers, according to the president of her junior club.

Matildas coach Alen Stajcic handed an international debut to 15-year-old sensation Fowler early on Friday morning as Australia reinforced their supremacy over Brazil with a 3-1 win to open their Tournament of Nations defence with a bang.

Fowler, who played junior football at Leichhardt Junior Soccer Club in Cairns, replaced prolific goalscorer Samantha Kerr in stoppage time in the victory.

The substitution was fitting for Fowler (right), with many football followers believing she may follow in the footsteps of goalscoring ace Kerr with her attacking flair and abilities.

Leichhardt Junior Soccer Club president Gavin Loeskow saw Fowler’s potential early on and believes she can help motivate more Far North footballers to chase their dreams.

“The aspiration for our juniors, especially for the 20 young ladies we have got at our club at the moment, it gives them something to aspire to after seeing Mary achieve this,” Loeskow said.

“Even ladies from other clubs who grew up playing with and against Mary and the whole Fowler family will be inspired, too. They have got the common touch because they have trained with these people, met them and been around them not long ago.

“They can aspire to something else other than playing in our local competition.

“The whole family have a great passion for football.”

Fowler grew up at Trinity Beach, before she and her family – parents Kevin and Nido, and siblings Quivi, Ciara, Louise and Seamus – moved to the Netherlands in 2015.

They returned to Australia late last year and the former Holy Cross school student made her debut for the Young Matildas in March against Thailand.

Two first-half goals from corners and a Kerr stunner booked Australia their fourth consecutive win over the South Americans.

Brazil had entered the match in Kansas City in form and determined for revenge, unbeaten in their past 12 outings since losing to the Matildas in Newcastle last September – including a nine-game winning stretch as they took out the Copa America Femenina earlier this year.

“It’s a good result for us and always fantastic to beat a world-class team in Brazil,” Stajcic said. “It’s not easy. “The performance was a little bit up and down; good first half, maybe we can improve a little bit with our second half.

“We will take the result and look forward to recovering for the game against America.”

The Matildas face the US on Monday morning before taking on Japan next Friday.