It's not often that defenders get on the scoreboard and when they do it is a special moment.
Westfield Matildas defender Laura Brock reflects on her first international goal on this day.
What are your memories of your first ever Westfield Matildas goal?
It seems weird because it was such a scrappy goal. I knew that I touched it last but then afterward people were kind of like questioning it and it made me question if I actually had the last touch.
It was such an ugly goal, but it was in a really momentous game as it was one of my best friends’ final match.
As a defender you don't often get many opportunities to get up the park. As the ball is heading your way, what are your thoughts as it reaches you?
Well, it's funny because I feel like I'm always up there for an attacking set piece. I couldn't fathom why after all these years of playing had I not scored yet.
I go out for every corner, in every set piece and I was thinking why has it never fallen my way? I feel like I can score those in training, but when it gets in games, it just like never happens for me.
And so yeah, I think that excitement is just like this rush of energy. You don't know where it is, where it's gonna go and you just run a toe poker. I think I've literally just got a nick on it, but I remember seeing footage of just getting up and being super stoked.
You seemed very excited to have scored. Had you ever thought of how you would celebrate that first goal?
I never know how to celebrate goals because it never happens for me!
In my mind, I know what it should look like but then when that happens, it never happens the way I intended it to be like. I’m more shocked than excited.
How does it feel when you score for your country, especially as a defender?
It's really hard to put into words to be honest because it's like you said, as the center back you live for the big tackles and the blocks. To be able to sort of have a piece of the other end of the field it feels like “hey, I can do it all”[laughs]
It also feels like, give us some credit. Alanna [Kennedy] and Polks [Clare Polkinghorne] scores alot. We could be up there, we just chose to be at the back!
Seriously though, it is special scoring. It is special just playing. I have great memories of big tackles, or blocking a really crucial shot that was probably going top corner, and keeping your team in the game that way.
What emotions did you have scoring in the final game of one of your best friends, Collette McCallum?
To be on the field with her at the same time, on her final game when this is some-one I have looked up to for so long, it was really special.
To then be able to enjoy it afterwards, although I didn't enjoy it that much as I was bawling my eyes out, that was special that I could be a part of Colly's last game. I wish she could be a part of my last game.
