Matildas ‘in awe’ of AFLW facilities as they gear up for semis

Australia is simply two video games away from being topped world champions with Wednesday night time’s match towards England at Accor Stadium looming as one of the eagerly awaited matches in Australian sports activities historical past.

And the Matildas have your complete nation on their aspect, together with the Sydney Swans who’ve teamed as much as assist put together them for the do-or-die match with the previous enemy.

With simply 4 days separating their penalty shootout victory over France and their conflict with the Lionesses, timing is vital to getting their battle-weary our bodies up for the combat.

And they’ve turned to top-of-the-line amenities within the nation to get the job completed.

The Matildas travelled to the Swans’ new HQ on the former Royal Hall of Industries in Moore Park for a coaching session on Monday afternoon.

In complete, the redevelopment value $70 million with a $15 million funding from the Federal Government, $26 million from the NSW authorities and $6 million from the AFL.

The venue has been purpose-built to accommodate each the Swans’ males’s and ladies’s groups that includes an indoor coaching subject, specialised gyms and a pool space.

It was a low-intensity session for the Matildas on Monday with the squad utilizing the train bikes earlier than placing the icy plunge bathtub and heated spa to the take a look at. They additionally used the Swans’ specifically designed AFLW change room.

“It was really cool to have them in the facility today,” Lucy McEvoy, Sydney’s AFLW co-captain mentioned.

“The attention they’ve brought to soccer and women’s sport as a whole is incredible and to think that they’re in here with us and doing their own thing, it’s really inspiring.”

The Swans’ new HQ was formally opened by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in June and has been hailed as top-of-the-line skilled sporting amenities within the nation.

It was a sentiment shared by the Matildas who had been impressed with what they’d at hand. And starstruck Swans gamers suppose the go to of the nation’s most in-demand athletes will give them a lift for the upcoming AFLW season.

“Even they were in awe of what we’ve got here,” Chloe Molloy, Sydney’s different AFLW co-captain mentioned.

“It affirms to us that what we’re operating is world-class. Even to have the Matildas through, we’re in awe that they’ve touched the gym equipment that we’re using.

“They’re making waves and smashing any glass ceilings that we had. I think for the AFL Women’s, and for any female sporting code, should jump on the back of the Matildas’ momentum.”

Matildas veteran Tameka Yallop, who scored from the penalty spot in Australia’s dramatic 7-6 shootout quarter-final weekend win over France at Suncorp Stadium, mentioned the squad’s progress beneath coach Tony Gustavsson had gone to plan.

“For this group, the journey started over two years ago with ‘TG’ coming in and building a group based on his football philosophies and also coming in to what we already had,” Yallop mentioned.

“The timing of everything and all the finer details coming into place, it’s all happening now, which is really the pinnacle and the point that you want it to come together at.

“It’s been a long journey for us and we’re all still focused on that journey, and we don’t want it to end until the very last whistle.”

Yallop, who has greater than 100 caps, mentioned: “Every Matilda that pulls on the journey feels the legacy of the players before.

“There’s been a tight group of players that have grown up playing football together, and they’ve been building football memories since they could kick a ball.”

Yallop talked about the “never-say-die” mantra that the Matildas swear by because the Australians centered on the duty of once more beating the European champions on Wednesday night time after getting the higher of them in a 2-0 pleasant win in London in April.

“That was a friendly game and we do take something out of it, but at the same time we’re into knockout games in a World Cup so it’s a completely different game,” she mentioned.

“We won’t let the result of that game … alter our tournament mode.”

Originally revealed as FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: Matildas practice at Sydney Swans new HQ