The Matildas run at the FIFA Women’s World Cup may well have come to an end but there are one group of ladies still seeking appropriate recognition, The First Matildas.
This is the title of a book written by our guest, Greg Downes. Greg talks about how a chance meeting with one of the ’75ers as they have become known led the to book and we discuss why it would appear that they are not being given the recognition that they deserve, and how all the evidence points to them being the first women to wear the Australian colours in a sanctioned international tournament. The book brings to life a number of women who few in football would have known or heard of and that has to be good as now they will never be forgotten. The crucial issue now is having their achievements recognised appropriately.
While on the subject of football John and Ashley discuss the FIFA Women’s World Cup being hosted by Australia and how the Matildas have surprised many by showing that they are not reliable on one player, Sam Kerr. They look at the team’s performance during the pool stages and how they have captured the hearts of the nation.
They look at how this tournament has been unique in terms of how many of the favourites bowed out early and how the African nations have shown that they could be a force to be reckoned with in the future. Were the USA too arrogant? Or was it simply a dominant generation coming to the end?
Rather than a second specific topic they guys ramble on about the dress codes in women’s sport, and touch on the other sports that have been pushed into the shadows due to the Matildas, such as Australia’s World Cup winning Netball team. So much so that the Australian Boomers Basketball match has been moved so that it does not have to compete with the Matildas. Both Australian hockey teams also qualified for the Olympic Games in Paris, but that too seemed to slip under the radar.
Ashley looks at the coverage of the cricket during the Ashes, hosted by Channel Nine, and Channel Seven’s coverage of the World Cup and asks could they have done better? What would the late Kerry Packer have made of it?
While John asks what the legacy of the World Cup will be, and how quickly all will be forgotten as other sporting events take centre stage. Ashley hopes that the fees for children playing football are heavily reduced and that this is the lasting legacy.
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