Growing accolades just the beginning for Mary Fowler

Nineteen year-old Mary Fowler has joined a list of phenomenal Australian athletes including Ashleigh Barty and Emma McKeon by taking out the Women’s Health Women in Sport ‘One to Watch’ award for 2022.

The youngster adds the award to a growing list of impressive accolades. These include being a part of Goal.com’s 2020 and 2021 NXGEN, making ESPN’s ‘Best 21 under 21’ list last year and her recent nomination for European Golden Girl 2022.

It is easy to see why so many people rate her ability as a footballer so highly. The Manchester City midfielder exudes calm, becoming known for her ability to receive the ball and pick out a pass almost anywhere. She is also lauded by her team-mates, captain Sam Kerr famously claiming that Fowler is “best finisher in the team.”

Fowler’s journey began in her Far North Queensland home of Trinity Beach, competing with her siblings in all kinds of sporting contests. Known as the ‘Fowler Five,’ her family are full of talent. Her brother Caoimhin (known as Quivi) played professionally in the Netherlands, and her sister Ciara debuted for Adelaide United the same season as Mary.

She credits her family with fostering an environment that encourages a growth mentality in all areas of her life.

“It’s definitely something that my parents and my family instilled in me, that if you’re doing something, you do it at the best standard that you can,” she said.

“Whether you’re a footballer or you’re doing schoolwork, if you can do something at a better standard why not? When you have the capacity to do something at a better level, why wouldn’t you?”

It is this kind of mentality that has sown the seeds for her impressive career so far.

She first burst into the consciousness of the Australian footballing public at the 2018 AFF Championships. At only 15 years-old, she scored 10 goals in six games against senior opposition to put her name firmly front of mind of former CommBank Matildas coach, Alen Stajcic.

Such was her undeniable talent that Fowler debuted soon after as a late substitute against Brazil in the 2018 Tournament of Nations. She was 15 years and 162 days old, the fifth youngest player ever to debut for the CommBank Matildas. She had yet to play a senior professional club game.

That soon changed, of course, with Adelaide United snapping her up for the 2019/20 season along with her older sister Ciara. She scored her first goal on her debut against Western Sydney Wanderers, a sign of things to come in her professional career.

It didn’t take long for clubs around the world to begin to take notice of her burgeoning talent. In January 2020, still only sixteen years old, she made her first major move, signing for French league club Montpellier HSC. Known foremost by CommBank Matildas fans after the Miracle of Montpellier in 2019, it was in Montpellier that Fowler’s game really began to accelerate.

It is a huge challenge for any player to adjust to a new environment, but it is testament to Fowler’s maturity and mental fortitude that she was able to do so at such a young age. Doing so within the context of the impending COVID-19 pandemic that would bring her first season in France to a premature end, is an even more impressive feat.

It was perhaps her creativity off the field that provided her with the outlet to shine on it.

“I find it quite important to do my artwork and to do things that allow myself to express who I am and how I’m feeling in those moments,” she explained.

“It’s pretty much all about expression. I see myself as a very creative person.

“I think on and off the pitch, my creativity goes hand in hand.”

Her three seasons at Montpellier, culminating in 10 goals in 40 appearances, only enhanced her reputation in the footballing world. She was able to do what she does best - put her head down and quietly work every day to be, 'one day better,' as a footballer.

She also had a breakout season in 2021 for the national team, scoring five goals in 16 appearances. Famously, she scored the winning goal against Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics to send the CommBank Matildas through to the semi-finals.

It was on the back of this success that she made the most eye-catching move of her career so far. In June, she signed for Manchester City in the FA Women’s Super League. She joined a star-studded squad that include European champions, established internationals and two senior CommBank Matildas' teammates in Alanna Kennedy and Hayley Raso.

It’s a move that the youngster is embracing, saying that her life in Manchester is good.

“We’ve got a really good bunch of girls there, so it’s a place that I really enjoy going,” she said.

“I’m surrounded by players that are so much better than me and they demand a higher standard of me. I love that. It’s what I’m there for, because I’m going to get better in that way.

“You need to do everything faster. Simple things like where you’re taking your touch, scanning on time, sprinting faster – I’ve become aware of so many things that I need to become better at.

“I’ve already improved in some of these areas and I think that will become greater and greater as time goes on.”

While the accolades continue, Fowler will not rest on her laurels – one of the attributes that makes her so perfect for the, 'One to Watch,' tag.

“I’m not a finished product and I need to keep looking for resources and keep trying to find out what I’m not so good at, so that I can better them,” she explained.

She admits that it is sometimes easy to fall into complacency, to be happy with what she has already achieved in her career. She is already a CommBank Matilda, and already playing at one of the biggest clubs in Europe at only 19 years-old. It is easy to see how one could fall into that trap.

However, she makes sure to always circle back to her roots. When in doubt, she remembers the lessons that she learned in Far North Queensland all those years ago.

“Having that message instilled in me as a kid, always comes back to me,” she said.

“When I’m having these battles I always think – if I have the potential to do something great, why wouldn’t I?”

It is undeniable to anyone who has watched her work her magic on the football field that her potential for greatness is very real.