Montemurro: These are the occasions that you treasure in sport

CommBank Matildas Head Coach Joe Montemurro said that the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ on home soil was going to be a special moment for himself and the squad.

He was speaking alongside captain Sam Kerr at the official pre-match press conference before the team plays the Philippines in the opening game of the tournament.

“I’m just really looking forward to getting on the pitch, to be honest,” he said.

“It’s been a different journey to get here. But these are special occasions. These are occasions that you treasure in our sport, as professionals. There’s a lot of pride, from my personal perspective, to be able to be part of this special group and to be part of tomorrow.

“We're looking forward to an amazing tournament. I think there's going to be some special memories made.”

In 2023, Kerr sat in a very similar press conference in the lead up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™. While her personal preparation is much smoother this time around, she reflected on that experience in light of another major tournament at home.

“Every year that I play for the Matildas, the team gets better,” she said.

“There’s a mix of more experienced players playing overseas, and the younger generation coming through now is really good… with the extra three players in the squad, we might go a little bit deeper in the tournament.

“Most people don't get to play one tournament at home in their career. So the fact that we get two opportunities is an incredible honour. I'm really looking forward to being in a tournament and not talking about my left calf – I’m talking about the football and being back to playing. I've had a long journey from my ACL. I'm honestly so excited, so grateful to be back here and to be playing football.”

She estimated that she is back to about “85%” of her best after a significant period out of the game.

“When I came back from the ACL with Chelsea at the start of the season, I felt really good, and then I probably had a little bit of a dip,” she recalled.

“When you're out for so long, you have all this self-doubt creep in. But I've had so many amazing people around me, and I feel right at home with the Matildas. So it's a good place for me to just settle back in and be myself.

“I'm probably 85% and above. I don't want to say I'm at 100% yet. I haven't had one of those games yet where I felt completely myself, but I think about 85% and above.”

Kerr is also the final member of the current squad to have been a part of the winning AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2010™ team. It remains the only time that Australia has lifted the trophy.

“I think going in as a little bit of a dark horse [in 2010] helped us as a national team, and now with the pressure that the Matildas carry, we've just tried to not talk about winning and just talk about one game at a time,” she said.

“I know how much everyone wants to win this tournament, of course, but we don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves. There are a lot of great teams in our path, and we just have to take it one game at a time.”

It will be an incredibly special moment for the girl from Perth when she walks out at Perth Stadium for the opening game of the tournament. Kerr is the only player from Western Australia in the squad.

“We all get to play in front of family and friends, but when you do it at a major tournament, it's extra special,” she said.

“It’s my first time being a Mum playing in Perth, so that's special. All my family and friends will be here and not have to fly to the east coast. Mostly, it feels great to bring it back here for the fans. We have so many West Australian fans who spend so much money and time flying all across the country. To bring a major tournament here, it feels really great, and something that the Matildas can give back to the game.”