Rock, paper, scissors for a jersey? The new trend that highlights impossible Matildas' task as popularity soars

'Can I have your jersey?'

Those words are part of an uncomfortable growing trend in the world game that has followed the Matilda effect into women's football here in Australia.

Signs asking for players' jerseys, boots, gloves and more are filling stadiums across the country when it's Tony Gustavsson's side on the pitch.

It was happening pre-World Cup in the WSL, after England's Euro 2022 success, but has become very noticeable since this year's tournament thanks to the soaring popularity of the Matildas.

The newest trend is asking a player to compete in rock, paper, scissors in exchange for their jersey, and if the fan wins, their prize is said jersey.

But as the women's game grows, the expectations put on players to part with their items and lap the stadium post-match for hours - something that many have seen online or become accustomed to - are becoming harder and harder to fulfil.

And the reality is, that players can't fulfil the asks of every fan in a stadium full of more than 59,000 like the one that cheered on the Matildas at Optus Stadium on Sunday night.

Yet they try to.

It reached a crossroads moment this month in England when a parent complained online that Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps had snubbed their child after a WSL match.

The Lionesses goalkeeper said she had taken the time to meet as many fans as she could post-match. Yet it seemingly wasn't enough for that mother as her child missed out.

Her national teammate, Manchester City's Esme Morgan, was then asked about it last week and explained the reality that comes with growing fan bases.

"It's just not possible for us to get round everyone," she told the BBC.

"You can't please everyone and you always remember that one person who wasn't happy with you as opposed to all the people whose day you made and they were really grateful.

"We love being able to go over and make someone's day and see how excited people get but with the growth of the game now it's just not really realistic and feasible for us to get round and see everyone."

And it's the same for the Matildas, even if they are Australia's most beloved side, as support grows it simply isn't possible.

Aussie fans have also complained online because players did not part with gear or bypassed their section on their lap of the stadium in recent months, leading to unfulfilled expectations for new fans.

This is despite several Matildas having to be escorted off the pitch by team staff for spending too much time on their post-match interactions with fans.

A prime example is Mackenzie Arnold.

To begin with her shirt has extra value added to it, given that Nike has refused to release a version of her goalkeeping jersey despite calls for the company to do so after the World Cup.

Then there were two social media posts after the Philippines' 8-0 thumping that highlights the problem loud and clear.

One, a video of the Matildas goalkeeper, showed her ignoring a sign asking for her gear and autographing it instead.

Another post showed the 'brick wall', as she's known for her efforts in the penalty shootout against France, giving her boots to a fan with a sign asking the same.

Players like Arnold only have so much to give away, and sometimes they can't or won't part with it for whatever reason and rightfully so, the choice is theirs.

Then there were videos of Kyra Cooney-Cross and Hayley Raso playing the paper, scissors, rock game and parting with their jerseys after the Iran match.

What is clear is that fans sometimes get caught up in the moment and forget that it's not a transaction between them and their heroes.

It's two humans interacting, it's a child meeting their role model, a football die-hard rooting for the team they love, a teenager meeting someone they look up to, an adult inspired by the golden generation, it's football.

So while players do seem happy to gift their gear to fans, the expectations and signs do no one any favours, setting the fans up for disappointment and the players up for failure.

The signs at best are obliged or ignored, but at worst lead to unattainable fan expectations and put players in uncomfortable situations.

Another key factor to consider is the financial aspect.

Stars like Arnold, Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord and Mary Fowler have brand deals and sponsorships to fund their boots and other playing gear, but several still do not. And then there is the small problem of blisters, constantly changing boots will impact a player's performance as it takes time to wear new ones in.

There are also players with limited caps for their country, who simply don't want to part with their kit due to the memories or wish to give it to their family and friends to mark the occasion.

And the small fact players only get two jerseys per game and limited national team gear each camp.

It's an even bigger problem when it comes to the A-League Women where Matildas stars like Cortnee Vine and Tameka Yallop are still expected to part with their gear yet are only given a few shirts for the entire season.

So let's end the signs asking for players' jerseys, be realistic with fan expectations when there are thousands of fans and be grateful for interactions, in whatever form they come: a selfie, a signature, a hello, a wave, a jersey or nothing at all.

Originally published for Optus Sport on November 1, 2023