Rival sporting codes want to be part of Matildas fever

afr.com:

Rival winter sporting codes want to tap into the unprecedented surge in support for the Matildas as they head into the closing stages of the soccer World Cup to get more girls to play sport, especially in their teenage years, as well as attract bigger crowds to their own stadiums.

With the Matildas’ stunning quarter-final victory against France on Saturday catapulting them into a semi-final against England on Wednesday night, long-time soccer supporters in Australia also would like to ensure the exposure from the World Cup will lead to lasting change for the game.

Sam Kerr leads Mary Fowler, Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley to celebrate the Matildas’ victory after a record-breaking penalty shootout. Getty

The AFL – which is the most commercially successful winter sport – said it was hoping the strong interest in the Matildas would encourage teenage girls to persist with sport at a time when many drop out.

Millionaire soccer star Sam Kerr was already a household name, but the home World Cup has allowed other players such as Mary Fowler, Haley Raso, Caitlin Foord and goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold – whose saves won the game for the Matildas on Saturday night – to win over a new legion of fans.

Sold-out stadiums in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane for the women’s World Cup in the past month have also whet the appetite for rival codes to get more bums on seats for their own games.

AFL executive general manager, customer and commercial, Kylie Rogers, said the success of the Matildas – whose quarter-final was the most-watched sporting event since Cathy Freeman won gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics – could benefit all sporting codes.

“It’s wonderful to see the wave of support for the Matildas and fantastic to have such appetite and