Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Australia striker Samantha Kerr has enjoyed a record- breaking 2017 and the recently crowned AFC Women’s Player of the Year now has her sights firmly fixed on this year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Jordan and the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Samantha Kerr has come a long way in the nine years since she made her W-League debut at the age of 15. But the Australian has arguably come an even longer way since suffering a serious foot injury in 2015 that led her to consider quitting the game.
Now 24, Kerr came back stronger than ever, and recognition for a sensational 2017 came in the form of the AFC Women’s Player of the Year award.
It was a year that began well as she received the Julie Dolan award for the W-League’s outstanding performer in the 2016-17 season with her club Perth Glory. And it ended with Kerr breaking an Australian scoring record as she became the first player to find the back of the net in six consecutive Matildas’ matches.
In between, Kerr became the United States’ National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) all-time leading scorer at Sky Blue FC, and was top scorer in Australia’s triumph at the inaugural Tournament of Nations, where they saw off heavyweight opponents in the USA, Japan and Brazil.
“At a team level, winning the Tournament of Nations,” said Kerr, when asked to identify the highlights of an incredible year. “Beating the USA was huge but then we backed it up by beating Japan, who are still one of the best teams in the world, and then beating Brazil 6-1.
“That whole tournament was just huge, and, as a team, we finished this year with seven straight wins and we lost just one game in 2017, so it has been a great year for the Matildas and we still think we can get better.
“On a personal level, beating the record in the USA (all-time top scorer in NWSL). At the time, I didn’t really think about the record and it didn’t really sink in, but now looking back it’s something that I’m really proud of and being the all-time leading goalscorer in the NWSL seems a bit surreal being so young and really only playing 3-4 years in the league after being injured the other two.”
Kerr completed her record of netting in six straight games as the Matildas saw off China 3-0 and 5-1 in two matches in Australia in November as the Matildas impressively dismantled the eight-time AFC Women’s Asian Cup winners.
“I wouldn’t say I was surprised,” Kerr said. “We expect to win against most teams now. There would probably be only one or two teams in the world that we don’t think we’re favourites against. I might be biased being on the team, but I honestly think we’re one of the best teams in the world.
“We have everything now. We have speed, we have skill, we are technically very good. We hadn’t seen China in a while, but going by other results that they have had, we thought we would go in with a strong chance.”
In addition to winning the AFC gong, Kerr also made the initial 10-strong shortlist for the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year award, but missed out on being one of the three finalists, who were the USA’s Carli Lloyd, Venezuelan Deyna Castellanos and Holland’s Lieke Martens.
“Honestly, it’s just an honour to win it [the AFC award],” Kerr said. “When I found out I wasn’t nominated in the final three [for the FIFA award], it just motivated me more. But it was a huge honour to be nominated in the top 10.”
It would be an exaggeration to say that Kerr’s career has been a slow-burner given that she is still only 24. She scored in the 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup final at the age of 16 and has twice won the FFA Under-20 Player of the Year award.
Kerr may have been around for nine years, but she has had to overcome serious injuries to stay on track. Most recently, ruptured foot ligaments kept her out of action from November 2015 to mid-2016, while she had to have a knee reconstruction in 2011 and another knee operation in 2014.
“I can’t put my finger on it,” Kerr said, when quizzed on her upturn in fortunes this year. “The reason I started playing football is because I love it and I’ve just tried with every game to go out there and play with a smile on my face.
“I will say that I’ve tried to be more of a professional. I’ve battled some injuries over the years so taking care of my body and all those kinds of things – the one percenters that have really added up and made a difference to my game.
“Honestly, I’ve just grown up and I think I’m at that age now where I realise that this is my life, this is my job, and I’ve taken that completely seriously.”
Although she has elevated her game to new levels, there is no danger of Kerr becoming complacent and she has just set her sights even higher.
“I guess up until this year I never really thought of winning World Player of the Year but I guess now that I’ve been nominated and been so close, I want to win that one day,” Kerr admitted.
“But, like I said, team things are more important than individual awards, so my main goal is to win a World Cup with the Matildas and get a medal at the Olympics.”
With an amazing 2017 now in the past, there are new priorities for the Australian national side in 2018, beginning with the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Jordan in April ahead of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
Kerr is incredibly the third Australian in four years to lift the AFC Women’s Player of the Year award. Katrina Gorry (2014) and Caitlin Foord (2016) are international teammates who form part of a golden generation that should be reaching its peak years in 2019.
“The most important thing (in 2018) is the Asian Cup in Jordan,” said Kerr. “We want to win that and bring the trophy back home to Australia.
“And then, just to keep winning games, to get more games and experience under our belts and more time together before 2019, hopefully when we qualify.
“The Asian Cup is the most important thing at the moment, but it’s [the World Cup] in the back of my mind. Everything we do is for 2019.”
Kerr continues to play the W-League season for Perth Glory between October and February before switching to the NWSL from April to October.
She is keen to continue to play in both leagues but admits that time will tell if she can continue to perform in two countries.
“I see the time in the W-League as, not a break, but I’m home so it’s a mental break,” Kerr said. “I’m lucky enough that I get to play in my home city and have time to rejuvenate my mind and my body.
"The USA league is quite taxing, so I’m not sure with age if I’ll be able to do two forever, but I want to go to Europe at some point, too.”
While many budding young Australian footballers may be looking to Samantha Kerr as an inspiration, it was an American that had the biggest impact on Kerr as a player and a person.
“I think I’ve said it before, but Abby Wambach, which is weird because she’s a US player,” Kerr said when asked to identify the key inspiration in her career. “But I played with her in my first pro-league team in Western New York, and she made more of an impact on me personally rather than as a footballer.
“She was a great teammate, and I don’t have one bad word to say about her. When I leave football, that’s what I want people to say about me. She just really motivated me to be a better player and also a better teammate.”
Wambach’s influence could certainly be seen in 2017, as Kerr undoubtedly became a much better player.
There is surely more to come as Kerr and the Matildas aim for their second AFC Asian Cup title. At the age of just 16, Kerr netted Australia’s only goal in the 2010 final against DPR Korea, with the Matildas eventually winning on penalties. In Jordan, she will be eight years older and wiser.
On the evidence of the last 12 months, she will also be significantly better than the precocious talent of 2010.