Top AFL journalist Caroline Wilson blames Matildas’ ‘secrecy’ and stage-managed interviews as she says World Cup hasn’t lived up to its potential in Australia

Top AFL journalist Caroline Wilson blames Matildas’ ‘secrecy’ and stage-managed treatment of stars as she says World Cup hasn’t captured the imagination of Aussies

•  Reporter complains about secrecy around Matildas
•  Says Australians can’t get to know the players
•  Described team’s media management as ‘extraordinary’

By James Cooney For Daily Mail Australia

Updated: 09:53 BST, 6 August 2023

Top footy reporter Caroline Wilson believes that despite some thrilling games the Women’s World Cup hasn’t made a huge impact in Australia – and she blames the ‘secrecy’ surrounding the Matildas.

The Matildas stormed into the tournament’s round of 16 on Monday after hammering reigning Olympic champions Canada 4-0 last week.

On Monday, Sydney will turn green and gold as the Aussie team takes on Denmark in front of a sellout crowd of about 80,000 fans.

Superstar Sam Kerr didn’t play in the group stage after injuring her left calf on the eve of the tournament, but she’s set to be unleashed against Denmark after the team kept fans in the dark about the complaint in order not to give their rivals an edge.

Wilson was sharply critical of how the team has handled itself and its stars in a TV appearance on Sunday morning.

Caroline Wilson has complained about the ‘secrecy’ surrounding the Matildas at their home World Cup, blaming it for the tournament failing to live up to its potential

Wilson says there’s so many other great stars in the side besides Sam Kerr (pictured at training) but the public can’t get to know them because they aren’t allowed to give interviews

‘I have to be brutal, I don’t (think the tournament is cutting through),’ she told the ABC’s Offsiders program.

‘Certainly when the Matildas win – and the games have been unbelievable, don’t get me wrong – but I don’t feel I know the Matildas any better now than I did a few weeks ago.

‘The whole campaign was built around Sam Kerr. There was the shock of her not playing. 

‘There’s so many other brilliant players in the team, but because you’re not allowed to give interviews and they are heavily media managed…

‘There is an element of secrecy. I understand this is World Cups. You don’t see it in Olympic Games or certainly not in the football code I cover [AFL]. You don’t see it as Wimbledon or the British Open Golf. 

‘It’s quite extraordinary. I just want  to get to know my team better.’

Football commentator Simon Hill responded to Wilson’s complaints, arguing that the way the Matildas are managed is part of ‘the culture’ of a World Cup – and that players are micro managed and protected because the world’s media are trying to all get access to them.

Despite the sell-out crowds and huge TV ratings, the World Cup has attracted criticism in Australia because the vast majority of games have only been available to Optus subscribers.

Wilson said there is an element of secrecy around the Matildas making it hard to know them

Simon Hill suggested that players are micro managed because it’s the culture of a World Cup

SBS commentator Lucy Zelic said it was ‘baffling’ that such an enormous sporting event had so few football matches available to the public on free-to-air TV.

Optus have defended the decision to keep most of the matches behind a paywall.

‘Broadcaster rights fees are key to ensuring the continued growth and equality of women’s sport, and contribute to everything from grassroots momentum to salaries for our national players,’ a spokesperson told news.com.au.

‘This is enabled by matches being broadcast across a combination of free and paid environments which is normal across the sports landscape.

‘For example, viewers from the previous host nation of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 viewed most games behind a paywall in France, and the majority of games for the most recent major world sports event hosted in Australia,’ the Optus representative continued.

‘The 2022 Men’s Cricket T20 World Cup (was) behind a paywall on Foxtel/Kayo, as well as for most major domestic sports in Australia, such as AFL, NRL and cricket.’

Actual ticket sales for the tournament have been outstanding, with Football Australia announcing before the tournament that more than 1.5 million had been sold – establishing a new benchmark for any FIFA Women’s World Cup event.

Australia has contributed more than 1.1 million of the total ticket sales, showing the booming interest in women’s football Down Under.

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