When they’re in Matildas camp, Emily van Egmond and Sam Kerr are roommates.
It’s been that way for a long time for two of Australia’s most prominent footballers, who between themselves have represented their country 154 times.
Despite that long history, it won’t matter too much come Saturday night in Perth.
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“Sammy’s a very special player, and she’s definitely a player you have to keep an eye on,” van Egmond said.
When asked if she had any dirt to dish on her long-time Matildas roommate though, the midfielder was remaining tight-Iipped.
“She’s great, she’s a character, she’s cool. No bad habits, nothing!” van Egmond laughed.
“We’re good, we’ve been roomies for a long time now and she does her thing, I do my thing. We’ve grown up playing together from such a young age.”
This weekend shapes as a huge game for the Jets, who are just three points away from second place on the ladder and searching for their first Westfield W-League win in Perth.
Despite the clash of the Australian titans in Kerr and van Egmond, there’ll be no extra attention on the talents of a striker who slotted three goals in seven minutes against the Jets in December last year.
“The good thing about [coach, Craig] Deansy is, we always try to focus on how we can win the game and what we can do as a team,” van Egmond said.
“You have to take into consideration the opposition that you’re playing against, but the main focus is on us and what we can do, and how we can win the game.
“If we can have a good week in training and head to Perth with the right mentality we’ll definitely be looking to win, because we need the three points.”
Almost all of the Matildas who have one eye on June’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in France are plying their trade in the Westfield W-League.
The draw for the competition’s group stage was released on Sunday morning (AEDT) and will see the Aussies take on Brazil, Italy, and Jamaica for a shot at the knockout stages.
Barring catastrophe, van Egmond will line up at her third World Cup in June 2019 but at this stage, hasn’t allowed herself to look that far ahead.
“To be honest, I haven’t even looked too much into it, I just know that we have Brazil, Italy, and Jamaica,” the midfielder said.
“I think the draws are quite even in all the groups, and I think that with women’s football these days, it’s getting more and more competitive.
“Every team will be a challenge and pose a completely different threat on the day.”
