CommBank Matildas midfielder Clare Wheeler spoke about the team’s new system, her club form with Everton, and looking ahead to the Olympics after the team’s 2-0 victory over Mexico.
“I think with our preparation and where we are as a team, our game plan is becoming more and more clear for everyone,” she reflected about the game. “We’re really having to buy into it, and we’re executing it, and I think the results are now showing this new style of play and what we want to do heading into the Olympics.”
“As a defensive midfielder, I love it. It’s all about passing the ball and breaking down lines with variety and it’s something that I love to do. We want to be on the ball as midfielders. I think it’s going to add different styles of play for us.”
In recent months, Wheeler has faced the unenviable task of breaking into a midfield containing the quality of Katrina Gorry and Kyra Cooney-Cross. With an injury to Gorry ruling her out of this camp, however, it gave the Everton midfielder the opportunity to come on as a second-half substitute.
“It’s good to get minutes,” she said. “With more minutes, the more comfortable you feel. Up until this point I haven’t really been able to play with Kyra [Cooney-Cross] as much, so it’s really good that we’re able to build a bit more of a partnership and understanding with each other.”
“With every opportunity you just want to take it, whether it’s five minutes, 20 minutes or whatever, you just want to do the best with what you have. That’s the way I look at it.”
The 26-year-old is in arguably career-best form at club level. She has been playing regularly in the WSL both in her preferred central midfield position and also, at times, as a wing-back.
“I think for me, just getting consistent minutes, having to play out of position as well, it’s all added different layers to my confidence,” she explained. “I really enjoy playing and I love that game time. I think you’re seeing a confident person out there who’s just enjoying my football.”
“Going into my second year, it’s all about just building. Three years ago I was in the A-League, and now that I’m here in my second season in the UK I think I’ve grown as a player so much.
Leaving home, her job and the A-League Women was always going to take her out of her comfort zone, but she said that she is grateful for the steps that she took.
“When I went overseas to Denmark, it wasn’t like I knew that this [playing in the WSL for Everton] was going to happen,” she reflected. “But that’s how football works sometimes. You’ve just got to put one foot in front of the other and just keep going, and football moves so quick.”
“Now looking at where I am, I wouldn’t change a thing. It was the best thing for my career and for me personally as a player. Taking that leap of faith and doing something that was uncomfortable pushes you. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Like every player, with Paris 2024 on the horizon, her thoughts are firm about putting herself in the best possible position to play in her first-ever Olympics.
“The future for me is all around finishing the season well with Everton and taking every game as it comes,” she said. “If I do well in every game coming up, then that can only put me in a good position coming into the next camp and potentially selected for the Olympics.”
“My job is about just looking at one game at a time. Do the best I can with it and then hopefully I’m in a better position come selection.”