Cortnee Vine sprinted over in delight, meeting Shea Connors to celebrate the American’s grand final-winning goal midway through the second half. It was another big moment in what has been an astronomical 12 months for the poster star of the A-League Women, whose life has been changed by her winning penalty in the World Cup shootout against France.
Vine has been both mascot and protagonist for the swelling momentum around women’s football in Australia. The booming television ratings, crowds, junior registrations – all at least partly thanks to her. And after recovering from injury, Vine’s 10 goals have helped Sydney FC to back-to-back championships, vindicating her decision to stay in Australia.
But on this occasion, she was a spectator like the rest of AAMI Park. And celebrating the goal, jumping up and down alongside Connors and defender Charlotte McLean, the face of the sport turned to see a glimpse of football’s future.
Indiana dos Santos was one of the last players to reach the commotion. While the rest of Sydney FC engulfed Connors – who had been on the field for barely two minutes – it was Vine and McLean who first acknowledged Dos Santos. Breaking out from her half with the ball at her feet, the teenager’s precise lofted through pass unlocked the City defence for Connors to guide home the winner. Vine’s gleeful squeeze of the 16-year-old, was as much out of respect as joy.
Just as few remember Vine’s 16 minutes for the Matildas after coming off the bench against France that night in Brisbane, football’s history is written in moments. Dos Santos’ delicate pass for Connors is likely to be the enduring image from the showpiece for Australia’s domestic game.
Fittingly, after the great Matildas mania of 2023, she and this Sydney FC team represent what comes next for the sport. The Sky Blues are champions despite boasting an average age of not much more than 21, a full year less than the next youngest side.
Age became a theme for Saturday night the moment City’s first-choice Brazilian Bárbara had to pull out injured in the hours leading up to the match. It meant veteran goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri became a late replacement. The former Matilda, now 44, made her debut for the national team in 2002. Dos Santos wouldn’t be born for another five years.
Sydney’s youngest player is now a two-time A-League winner. Yet apart from creating the decisive goal on Saturday night, she was largely quiet. With her team needing to defend for large periods, Dos Santos’ effectiveness was perhaps best measured by the lack of impact from City’s electric full-back Bryleeh Henry.
But Dos Santos was not the only teenager making an impact on the domestic game’s greatest stage. Sydney’s 18-year-old Shay Hollman was influential in the centre of the park. City’s 17-year-old Daniela Galic, as well as 18-year-old substitute Caitlin Karic both delivered eye-catching displays.
What experience this young Sydney side had accumulated faced its greatest test in this ALW decider. They were marshalled by defenders Mclean and American Jordan Thompson, goalkeeper Jada Whyman and midfielder Mackenzie Hawkesby, all in their early-to-mid 20s.
City dominated possession, completing 685 passes to Sydney’s 280. Sydney FC were pinned on the edge of their box for much of the first hour of the contest. Resolute defending, especially by Thompson and full-backs Tori Tumeth and Abbey Lemon, were keeping the home side at bay.
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This great build-up of tension, this stretching of the Sky Blues, was an appropriate end to what has been an intense season. Amid high post-World Cup expectations and growing calls for full-time professionalism, more than 300,000 fans have attended the first 22-round, full home-and-away fixture, and average crowds are now more than 2,200.
The turnout on Saturday was slightly below expectations, at 7,671. But it was still the second largest ever for an A-League Women’s grand final, trailing only last year’s 9,519 who watched Sydney FC’s victory over Western United in Parramatta.
Upending tradition, the Julie Dolan Medal for the competition’s best player was presented not at a gala ceremony, but at half-time during the grand final. Western Sydney’s Sophie Harding was named the winner, claiming she was surprised despite being flown to Melbourne for the match.
On the field alongside top goalscorer Michelle Heyman, she said afterwards she asked herself: “Why am I actually standing here? Like, I thought maybe I was getting joint goal of the season or something”. 10 Bold’s broadcast of the match showed an ad for the TV Shopping Network as Harding had the medal presented to her.
But that was little more than a bizarre interlude from an enthralling on-field duel. And after Connors’ goal went in, the contest became even more one sided. The skill of Emina Ekic, Rhianna Pollicina and Galic kept knocking on the door. The Sky Blues answered: they wouldn’t let City in.
When the assistant referee’s board went up with nine minutes of added time, there was one last moment of hope for the home fans. Yet Sydney FC’s young charges were able to quell the home side, securing their record fifth title and a place in the history books. Dos Santos goes back to her text books, and is expected at school on Monday.
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