Fresh off of her debut for the Matildas, new Melbourne Victory signing Jenna McCormick is ready to continue her whirlwind month of football in the club’s Westfield W-League 2019/20 opener against Sydney FC on Sunday.
The match will be her first official outing for Victory since leaving her successful AFLW career behind in pursuit of national representation – a decision reaffirmed when she achieved a childhood dream as she ran out for the Matildas for the first time last Saturday.
McCormick followed up her impressive start on debut by again taking the field against Chile in the second international friendly on Tuesday in Adelaide, holding her own and looking every bit like a player with years of experience under her belt already.
It’s another accomplishment in a sporting career that has achieved so much at the age of just 25.
McCormick was an inaugural AFLW payer with the Adelaide Crows and won two premierships with the club, has played in 100 senior football games between the W-League and top tier leagues in Iceland and Norway, has plied her trade in front of record crowds in both sports and now has say she has represented her country.
Still, McCormick strives to achieve her ultimate goal.
“Pursuing football ahead of AFLW was about feeling a sense of unfinished business and wanting to represent my country,” said McCormick.
“The Olympics next year is where I want to be. I’ve had a really successful time with the Crows winning two premierships, and I felt as though I’d achieved everything I wanted to there.
“The time was right to move on to the next challenge in my career and I’ve found that with Melbourne Victory and with the Matildas – this is the journey that I’ve always wanted to be on and I’m just soaking it all up and am so grateful that I get to be a part of it now.”
There were a lot of emotions that McCormick had to contain during her Matildas debut as well.
With her family and friends in the crowd cheering her on from start to finish, it was a special experience that she will never forget.
“I was extremely emotional the whole time,” said McCormick.
“There were so many different emotions throughout the day leading up to the game and to find out that I was starting in my first match for Australia… I still have to take deep breaths to hold back emotions just thinking about it!
“It was a special moment to walk out with this incredible team and it’s a day I won’t ever forget.”
When McCormick walks out for Melbourne Victory on Sunday, yet another step in an incredible sporting journey will have been taken.
It’s a path that stands out from so many others and has been forged through hard work, commitment and an everlasting passion for sport, and could also be inspiring the next crop of young female athletes around Australia.
This fact, and appreciating everything she has been through and achieved, is what McCormick holds closest.
“I’m incredibly lucky to be able to say I’ve played in two premierships with the Adelaide Crows and in front of record-breaking crowds,” said McCormick.
“I’ve played overseas and now I’m representing my country and playing for Victory in the W-League, so I’ve had some really amazing moments in my career already and I certainly don’t take them for granted.
“I reflect upon how lucky I am to be here every day, and all with the support of all my family friends.
“If I can make a difference in someone’s aspirations, then I feel really good about that too.”
