Clare Hunt has had a remarkable rise since debuting for the CommBank Matildas just 15 months ago. She signed for Paris Saint-Germain at the start of last season, making 22 appearances across all competitions for the European giants, and has become a fixture in the national team.
The centre-back spoke to media in Adelaide on Tuesday after making her return to the Australian squad, having missed the previous international window due to a stress reaction.
The injury also denied her an opportunity to participate in the Coupe de France final, which PSG won – the first silverware that she has lifted overseas. She has since been named in the matchday squad three times, making the pitch once.
“I always had in my head that it would be a four-to-six-week injury and I just focused on doing everything I possibly could in that period,” she explained. “I knew that if everything went to plan, I would be able to come into this camp and continue to prepare. I had great preparation prior to leaving PSG, and fully training.
“It’s a little bit frustrating [to miss the final] but it’s also part and parcel of the job.”
Hunt only played 37 A-League Women’s games for Canberra United and Western Sydney Wanderers before making the move to one of Europe’s elite clubs. It was a transition that the 25-year-old admitted was challenging, but one that she has learned and grown from.
“I get to play and train with some of the best players in the world,” she reflected. “So it’s definitely increased the tempo at which I play. It’s challenged me to be faster in everything that I do.
“It’s been really, really tough but also really, really enjoyable. It's been a massive learning experience for me. I would say I’ve improved a lot since being there.
“It’s been a crazy 12-18 months, but it’s also been pretty amazing to have the experiences that I’ve had.”
The upcoming ‘Til It’s Done Farewell Series is another step on the journey towards the team’s preparation for Paris 2024™. Having been living in Paris, Hunt has experienced the anticipation for the games firsthand.
“There’s a lot of excitement in Paris,” she expressed. “Every street you walk down, there’s a little Paris 2024 [symbol].”
“It’s amazing to see the hype around. As a whole Olympic Games, not necessarily just football but an Olympic Games in general – it’s pretty special for France and Paris to host that too, knowing how much it changed Australia hosting our [FIFA Women’s] World Cup [2023].
“I’m excited to have the experience of a home World Cup and a "home" Olympics in a way. I don’t think many people have that.”
She stated that the two-match series against China will help the squad put on the finishing touches of their preparation for the Olympic Football Tournament.
“These two friendlies will really help us in preparation,” she outlined. “It’s the same opposition so it’s about what you can employ tactically between matches. Playing China as an Asian team, it’s quite a different opposition to who we’ve played recently so that also adds a bit of difficulty, but I think it’ll be really good for us to get that experience.
“I don’t think any match we play internationally is easy. We’ve got to go in with confidence, composure, and just do our job.”
COMMBANK MATILDAS | MATCH SCHEDULE
Match One
CommBank Matildas v China PR
Date: Friday, 31 May 2024
Kick-off: 7.40pm ACST / 8.10pm AEST
Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, South Australia
Broadcast: 10, 10 Bold (PER), 10 Play and Paramount+
Match Two
CommBank Matildas v China PR
Date: Monday, 3 June 2024
Kick-off: 7:40pm AEST
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales
Broadcast: 10, 10 Bold (PER), 10 Play and Paramount+