Cortnee Vine hopes the attention she received as the face of Australia’s nation-inspiring Women World Cup run will have a flow-on effect to the A-League Women.
The straight-talking winger went from relative obscurity to superstar status after her a shootout-winning penalty in Australia’s quarter-final victory over France.
The Matildas’ World Cup legacy is now set for its first test in three weeks time when Sydney FC host Western Sydney Wanderers in their season opener at Allianz Stadium on October 14.
ALW attendances have, at times, struggled to crack four figures but Sydney are hoping the groundswell of support can translate into real growth.
The reigning champions have experienced a 600 per cent increase in ALW memberships and want to smash the competition’s crowd record of 9,519 – set in last year’s grand final – to kick the season off with a bang.
“I have a lot of parents come up to me and say, ‘Thank you for inspiring my daughter, she has you on my walls’,” Vine told AAP.
“I never had that – a female athlete as a role model that I could look up to.
“Coming out of the World Cup, I didn’t realise how many people were watching and how many people got around women’s football.”
Vine turned down the chance to head overseas after her exploits for Australia and she is joined by many of her fellow Matildas teammates back on the home front.
Melbourne Victory have signed veteran goalkeeper Lydia Williams, Kyah Simon has joined the Central Coast Mariners and Tameka Yallop has agreed terms with Brisbane Roar.
Vine is aware her newfound stardom will make her a target in the domestic league as Sydney coach Ante Juric bids to rejuvenate a squad that has been picked apart by an off-season exodus to Europe.
“That’s my challenge for this year and I probably am going to be targeted a bit,” Vine added.
“That’s why I stay, to get targeted and have to get out of situations where I have three people on me.
“I get taken out a lot and that teaches you a lot of resilience and calmness.”
