Kerr’s special trick to get back in focus

IF you spot Sam Kerr sticking her head into her shirt midmatch in Penrith today, you’ll have witnessed the Australian forward grounding herself.

Then, if the mindfulness trick works, she might follow it with one of those Kerr moments that shot her into the stratosphere.

“I have a special thing,” Kerr says. “We have a sports psychologist who works with us (Matildas) and my thing is that whenever I’m thinking about something else and I catch myself, I put my head in my top.

“It’s just about bringing myself back to where I am and feeling my feet on the ground.”

A lot has changed in the year since Kerr, 25, and the Matildas last played in Penrith and Newcastle, when she scored three times across two wins over Brazil.

With the accolades has come a taste of global fame.

“You always want that as a kid. To be, I guess, known as a sports star,” Kerr said.

“But it can be a little bit confronting sometimes. I still haven’t got my head around people turning and almost staring at you. I can’t imagine being totally hugely famous.”

Kerr has an agent now to manage the demands that come with being one of the world’s best players so Perth Glory W-League marquee player can concentrate on the pitch in a World Cup year. Her focus is now on beating Chile.