- Tameka Yallop has opened up on the demands of professional football
- She backed Matildas team-mate Mary Fowler’s decision to take a break
- Fowler announced she would be pulling out of Australia’s friendlies on Sunday
Mary Fowler’s break from the Matildas reflects the increased intensity and demands of women’s football, says experienced teammate Tameka Yallop.
On Sunday, Fowler withdrew from Australia’s squad for upcoming home friendlies against Brazil and Taiwan, with Football Australia citing her need to recover from mental and physical fatigue.
The Manchester City starlet noted in a statement that ‘playing with an increasingly demanding schedule has been both exciting but at times also challenging’.
Fowler, 21, will instead spend the November-December international break resting with family.
Her absence follows Cortnee Vine’s decision to take a break from football for mental health reasons, with the winger struggling amid her rapid rise to the Matildas’ high-profile Women’s World Cup hero.
‘It’s almost a luxury to see where the game is at right now and how much the sport is growing,’ Yallop said.
Mary Fowler announced that she would not be available for Australia’s upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Chinese Taipei
Her team-mate Tameka Yallop said that while the Matildas will ‘miss’ Fowler, she claimed that her opting to miss out on the upcoming international matches is a ‘good thing’
Reflecting on Fowler’s (left) decision Yallop (right) also opened up on the demands of playing professionally
‘That’s a real positive thing, but it also does bring a lot of demand as well, and you see it in men’s football too.
‘So it’s not something that’s new, but it is something to be aware of and take care of each other like that, and to know when to, I guess, take the time for yourself as well.
‘So we’ll miss Mary this camp, and Viney, but it’s kind of a good thing with how big women’s football is.’
Yallop backed Fowler’s call to prioritise her wellbeing.
‘It is (important) to make sure that players aren’t getting sort of overloaded,’ she said.
‘We’re getting more and more games and more and more visibility, so players do need a rest and time to recoup as well.’
Interim coach Tom Sermanni will have to get creative with his squad with injured midfielders Katrina Gorry and Clare Wheeler also sidelined.
‘We’ve got a variety of players that can come in and do the job,’ Yallop said.
After playing for Australia at the Summer Olympics, Fowler has since gone on to make 15 appearances for both club and country this season, missing only one game
Yallop, meanwhile, has been in flying form for Brisbane Roar, having scored three goals in four games
‘It allows for opportunities for other players to come in.’
In red-hot form for Brisbane Roar, Yallop is back in her favoured attacking midfield role and has scored three goals in four games.
But often a jack-of-all-trades utility for the Matildas, Yallop, 33, is again ready to step up wherever required.
‘No.10 is an enjoyable position for me,’ she said.
‘I do quite like being a utility player. I do enjoy playing different positions on the field.
‘So for me, whether it’s club or national team, I enjoy definitely being able to have some creativity in the final third, but at the same time, the result is what I’m chasing.
‘So if that means a different role for me on the field, then I’ll happily play that.’
