Matildas great Clare Polkinghorne ready for Brisbane farewell against Brazil

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Australia's most capped Matilda believes the game is in "good hands" ahead of her football farewell in Brisbane. Clare Polkinghorne grew up watching soccer matches at Lang Park. Now, she'll step off the pitch as one of the sport's greats.

Transcript

00:00Claire Polkinghorns played hundreds of games in Brisbane, but her 168th Matildas match

00:08will be different.

00:09It's just really special to be able to play one last game here at home.

00:14Alain Park-Sendhoff only fitting for the 35-year-old who was the first woman to play 100 A-League

00:20matches before becoming Australia's games record holder.

00:24We use the word legend very loosely these days, but I think it describes her as she's

00:30been not just a stalwart within the team on the field, but off the field.

00:36The defender will have 45 family and friends in the stands, including brother Tom who's

00:41travelled from London.

00:43It was a long way to come, but certainly no question that I was going to make the trip

00:46back.

00:47I'm really looking forward to it and to be finishing in Brisbane where we sort of grew

00:51up and the stadium that we saw so many big games.

00:54There'll be a crowd of 40,000 watching the Matildas face the Olympic silver medalists,

00:59a stark contrast to when Polkinghorn first played for Australia in 2006.

01:05Claire debuted when the game wasn't even televised and then you're talking about the England

01:11semi-final being the most watched TV event in Australian history is pretty crazy.

01:15The team's in a really good spot, we've got players playing in the best leagues around

01:19the world.

01:20She'll be staying close with her next career move decided.

01:24You haven't spoken to FA about the vacant coaching position of the Matildas at all?

01:29No, but it definitely is something that I would love to pursue in the future is coaching

01:35and just staying in the game.

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