CommBank Matilda Alanna Kennedy said that her celebration after scoring the team's first goal in their 2-0 victory over New Zealand on Tuesday night was born out of "a lot of passion" for the national team.
Kennedy returned to the starting lineup in Adelaide after missing the first game of the international window due to suspension.
"I'm always happy to score for my country, and there is a lot of passion behind playing for the Matildas as well," she said post-match.
"It was disappointing to have to sit out the last game, so I was looking forward to being back on the pitch tonight. It's always exciting when you score a goal for your country, when they don't come that often. So I was happy to get a goal.
Her celebration was a notable one. Kennedy was delighted - arms spread, beating her chest, and eyes raised to the sky.
"I do that in training every now and then, when I score what I would consider a banger in training, and they don't come around often in the game - so I thought, whatever, I'm going to do it here," she laughed.
Kennedy has most often been seen as a centre-back in Matildas colours. However, after spending the majority of her time in club football over the last few years in midfield, Head Coach Joe Montemurro started her there on Tuesday.
"Playing a little bit higher up the pitch gives me probably more opportunities for those types of goals," she explained.
"There's always opportunities from set pieces when you're playing at the back as well. I feel like I probably could have scored a few more goals throughout my career. So hopefully there's more to come."
She praised the style of football that the team is playing under Montemurro.
"It allows you to play with freedom, and know that he has a belief in you to play, and backs our ability," she said.
"It also takes a little bit of pressure off you - feeling that you can't make a mistake, or when the coach wants to play that style of football. When you're trying things, you know you're always going to make mistakes, but what's important is how we react to those and I think Joe's got a really good balance."
The two results against New Zealand meant that the team finished 2025 on a high, something that Kennedy acknowledged was important to build momentum.
"We've finished the year on a positive note," she said.
"We've obviously had some ups and downs throughout the year, but overall, it's a new chapter, and I feel like we've taken that in our stride. We're in a good place going into the Asian Cup."
She said she was excited for the tournament, starting in March next year.
"You can hear the crowd behind us, and throughout the game, they were very loud," she said.
"Being in Australia is... You can't really describe it. There's no other feeling than playing in front of Matildas fans, and knowing our families are in the stands as well. It's a totally different energy. We've been spending so much time away from home. When we get the opportunity to come back, it's just so special.
"If it's [the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026™] anything like the World Cup and the support that we had there, I'm excited for that atmosphere. I'm excited and grateful for another opportunity to play a home tournament. It's a rarity, and they don't come around often, so that's exciting.
"Most importantly, as we always say, it's down to the wire now, and it's more important than ever that we win something."