Matildas young gun collects another citation
SCORE another goal for Sam Kerr.
The Matildas dynamo, 24, has capped a remarkable year as the world’s most exciting women’s soccer player by becoming the 2018 Young Australian of the Year.
Kerr exploded on to the sports scene at just 15, when she first represented Australia in the Matildas, and in less than a decade has become arguably the world’s best female player.
Her trademark backflip became a feature of the Tournament of Nations last year as she scored a hat-trick against Japan and helped Australia smash international titans Brazil 6-1.
The forward was named FIFA’s 2017 female player of the year and became the alltime leading goal scorer in the US women’s league, where she currently plays. She was the AFC’s 2017 Women’s Player of the Year.
Football runs in her blood. Her father, Roger, played Australian football professionally in South Australia and her brother, Daniel, played 220 games for the West Coast Eagles including premiership.
Born in East Fremantle, Sam’s first love was Aussie rules, and she dreamed of playing for the West Coast before switching codes aged 12 because there was no competition for girls. Just three years later, she made her international debut for Australia.
The Australia Day Council the 2006 praised Sam’s athletic prowess and sportsmanship and singled out her professionalism and mature approach to life as setting an example to all.
“Women’s sport has taken a huge leap this year and a lot more people are getting behind it,” Kerr said. “It’s great for not only the athletes involved, but the kids growing up with great role models now.”