After just one game the new Matildas era has begun in promising fashion – calmly, with work ethic and quiet leadership

With fifteen minutes to play against New Zealand on Thursday night, and players coming off mixed preparations in warm conditions in Sydney, the Matildas began to feel the bite of the first week’s induction under new coach, Ante Milicic.

Steph Catley, with the armband after Sam Kerr was substituted around the hour mark, approached the Australian bench for a water bottle during a short break in play – and before support staff, physios or anyone could respond, who was first to answer her request? The woman Milicic has entrusted to lead his team, Kerr.

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It was a simple action that had none of the ego befitting her superstar status, and all the hallmarks of the quiet leadership she intends to bring to the Matildas in the post-Stajcic era. Her quick reaction not just showing the mantra of “team first”, but also her support for her deputy, and the new leader on the field in her absence.

Earlier in the week, the new Matildas boss told media how the decision to make Kerr his on-field exemplar was a simple one: “She’s a leader, she’s fearless, she’s very important to this team”. For the long-time Socceroos assistant, Kerr’s influence reminded him of Tim Cahill – a star built as much from raw talent as from hard work, discipline and self-belief.

It’s a mutual appreciation society, with Kerr’s comments of praise for the Matildas’ first week under Milicic more than just the standard platitudes encouraged by FFA HQ about a clean slate or new environment. In references to the “fun” environment inside camp and the joy at “playing freely” the shadow of previous criticisms sneaks through. Under his predecessor, Alen Stajcic, the demands for constant improvement had long tipped into negativity; the desire to control the atmosphere surrounding the team had become stultifying.

On the touchline, Milicic cut a calm figure – there was no ranting, no raving – his demeanour more suiting a veteran of fifty games, not a new coach in charge of his first fixture. It was a calmness and patience that transferred to his players, with the Matildas showing level heads as they went about breaking down a New Zealand defence bolstered by the return of the imperious Abby Erceg.

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Kerr has already spoken publicly of the quiet belief that Milicic has in his principles and standards – and in their approach, the Matildas showed the influence of the Ange Postecoglou vision for Australian football.

“These girls are very good footballers,” said Milicic at the post-game press conference, “and I think that’s the Australian way: we want to dominate possession, we want the opposition to chase.” When journalists noted that his side played exclusively out from the back, Milicic rejoined without hesitation: “Of course – because that’s controlled possession – we want the ball, because that’s how our players enjoy themselves.”

In contrast with the “death or glory” approach of Postecoglou’s 2015 World Cup team that almost upset more-vaunted opponents, the Netherlands and Chile, but saw them well-beaten by Spain, the first glance at the Milicic-era Matildas suggests a little more circumspection.

There were no bombing fullbacks, with Catley and Ellie Carpenter observing their defensive duties ahead of their offensive contributions – and the midfield three of Elise Kellond-Knight, Tameka Butt and Emily Van Egmond showed balance and a vigilance against the counter-attack not always displayed by Postecoglou’s Socceroos.

And despite the conscious elevation of Kerr as the talisman for the team – evident in the early attempts by teammates to unleash the striker recently voted in the top-three female players in the world – that the goals eventually came from players not heralded as the “big names” inside the squad, Emily Gielnik and Hayley Raso, speaks to a new ethos of egalitarianism within the squad.

“I said the first day we got into camp: this is the national team,” Milicic explained post-game. “The only guarantee I give anyone is three games, so everyone is going to get an opportunity – every field player will get game time in these [Cup of Nations] games.”

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Amy Harrison, a player not selected in Milicic’s original 23 but drafted in following injury to Chloe Logarzo, was handed thirty minutes in the vital No 10 role in place of Van Egmond. She rewarded her coach’s show of faith immediately, putting on a fine ball to find Raso for the Matildas’ second goal. It was a bold change, but Milicic’s belief proved well-founded.

Alex Chidiac only entered the fray in the 78th minute after injury to Tameka Butt, suggesting perhaps a bigger role in game two or three for the Atlético Madrid midfielder. Instead of an over-reliance on trusted senior players – the first substitutes of the Milicic era were telling. Off came Kerr, Van Egmond, Kellond-Knight and Kennedy. The leading lights were removed leading only 1-0, but the challengers came in and repaid their coach’s faith with aplomb.

With remarkable depth within the Australian ranks – don’t forget this is a side awaiting the return of former AFC women’s player of the year Katrina Gorry, experienced striker Kyah Simon and the rapidly improving Logarzo. Nobody’s place is secured. Except perhaps for Kerr.

The on-field leader and off-field joker already appears the perfect complement for her new boss, whose reputation for work ethic and professionalism is countered by his expressed desire to find a beach-side camp for his team ahead of France 2019 so his players can relax. It’s a promising double act, and an essential dynamic for a side that already appears to have gone someway to retaining its swagger and self-belief.