In a momentous farewell, Clare Polkinghorne, Australia’s most-capped player, is set to make her final appearance for the Matildas at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night. This match against Brazil will mark her 168th appearance, concluding a remarkable career that saw her represent Australia 167 times. As the 35-year-old defender prepares to take the field in front of her home crowd, she emphasizes the importance of the team over personal accolades. ‘For me, the main thing is the team comes first,’ she stated, highlighting her commitment to the squad’s performance on this significant occasion. Although the spotlight is on her, Polkinghorne expressed that there’s no pressure on interim coach Tom Sermanni regarding her starting position. She is simply looking forward to enjoying the night and celebrating her illustrious career. Coach Sermanni praised Polkinghorne, calling her a ‘legend’ in the sport, noting that she deserves a special send-off. ‘It’s not often that a player gets to go out on their own terms,’ he remarked. Thursday’s game is expected to be an emotional yet fantastic event, not just for Polkinghorne, but for all her fans and teammates. Following this match, the Matildas have a busy schedule, with additional games against Brazil, Chinese Taipei, and a year-end closure in Geelong. The farewell match is anticipated to be a fitting tribute to Polkinghorne’s invaluable contributions to Australian football.
