The important LGBTQIA+ stories the Matildas' documentary tells

Fifteen years ago, Australians were first given a look into the lives of the Matildas off the pitch.

The 'Never Say Die' documentary captured their lead into the FIFA Women's World Cup 2007 and provided glimpses into some players' lives off the field.

Viewers briefly entered the home of Cheryl Salisbury, Sarah Walsh and Sally Shipard, watching as they juggled work and elite football.

The only mention of a relationship across the 52 minutes was a heterosexual one, between star Matildas' goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri and her husband at the time.

Granted filming took place 10 years before same-sex marriage was legalised in Australia, but a key part of the team's story - its LGBTQIA+ history - was absent.

Fast forward to 2023 and it's a very different case in the Matildas' newest docu-series 'The World At Our Feet'.

There is still a woman meets man love story thanks to Steph Catley and her Reading FC fiance Dean Bouzanis but queer storylines are scattered throughout and introduced as non-events for fans watching.

It begins with one of the biggest names in football - Chelsea striker Sam Kerr.

We meet the Ballon d'Or finalist's partner USWNT midfielder Kristie Mewis in New York during Kerr's short break.

Then it's Tameka Yallop on motherhood alongside her wife, retired New Zealand midfielder Kirsty Yallop, during a Matildas camp in Townsville.

Young star Ellie Carpenter's partner - her Lyon teammate Daniëlle van de Donk - is introduced next taking her to appointments after the Aussie tears her ACL in the 2022 Women's Champions League final.

Next, it's Aston Villa's Emily Gielnik arriving early to camp in Brisbane to propose to her long-term partner. She briefly discusses the friction between her Croatian heritage and her identity, explaining how the support of her Matildas' teammates had helped her embrace her sexuality.

A face in the 2008 documentary - and now Football Australia's head of women's football - Sarah Walsh, said the LGBTQIA+ representation in the new series was not lost on her.

"I was actually, funnily enough, sitting next to my wife and we both picked up on how it was really seamlessly integrated into the show as very normal and I think that was the beauty of it," the former Matilda told Optus Sport.

That really shone through in Emily Gielnik's story. She's got such a common story for how she found it difficult to come out and figured that out through love. The way that was integrated as a non-event, but didn't gloss over it, was beautifully balanced. Because I think the message for the Matildas squad is 'Yes, there are a lot of LGBTQ+ community members but that's not the story'.

"The story is that they've created an inclusive environment for all people to thrive. There are non-members in there as well and there are two First Nations women, who all feel equal and are treated equally, and that's the beauty of the team.

"That was my takeaway but as someone from the community, it wasn't lost on me how important those stories of casually gliding in the players' partners who are same-sex, and the impact that will have on teenagers who are thinking about coming out who love this team is a really good message."

It's one of just a handful of differences between the two documentaries captured 15 years apart.

One was produced by Australian broadcaster SBS, and the other by global brand Disney+.

One documented the team's pursuit of their very first win at a major international tournament, the other captured their biggest ever-win against a top-5 nation.

But the key difference in the six-part series was the growth of the women's game worldwide on all fronts - crowd size, pay security, playing conditions, full-time versus part-time occupation, and public expectations.

There were, however, several similarities between the two productions as well.

Heartbreak struck both the 2007 cohort, which lost to North Korea and failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games, and the 2022 cohort, which had an early Asian Cup exit.

"My view is that we all wear the jersey at a moment in time and you pass it on. I often think about what we had was pretty amazing compared to the generation before and they would say the same today," Walsh said.

"I was there when we got our first contract. So I don't view that (2008) doco as not having enough funding, that was a really fun time in my life that I look back at. It's pretty cool that there was a mini-doc on it, it was pretty crazy at the time to have a camera around us."

If another Matildas documentary is produced 15 or so years from now, FA and Walsh are hoping there has been further growth.

The governing body is aiming for 50/50 gender representation across the code as early as 2027 and growth both on and off the field for their two senior national sides (as well as junior representative programs) to come from the Women's World Cup on home soil in July.

FA chief executive James Johnson said when Australia won the joint bid with New Zealand to host the 2023 tournament, they immediately began planning for its legacy.

"When we won the bid back in June 2020, the first thing we did the day after was we got in the room and we talked about what legacy was and what legacy is. It's quite a difficult concept because it usually by definition happens after an event, but we think we've defined our vision very well for the legacy of the Women's World Cup which will help the sport over the next 20 years," he told Optus Sport.

"Our vision is to really see the Women's World Cup trigger a growth in participation, particularly young girls and women. We want to see it develop more female leaders across the sport and you're seeing the likes of Amy Duggan, Heather Garriock, Alicia Ferguson and Sarah Walsh, all taking these really crucial roles within the game.

"We want to ensure that it leaves an infrastructure legacy so more community facilities for participants, better stadiums for fans to enjoy top-tier football past the Women's World Cup, and a world-class high-performance programme for the Matildas. This legacy discussion is now being brought to life and that will set the game up very well for the next 20 years.

We've never had this, we've never really been in this position where we've got two really powerful brands, both the Matildas and the Socceroos. That's something that sets us apart from other sports in this country and this is where the link to bringing big content like the Women's World Cup to Australia comes in. There's no other sport that can compete with competitions like the Women's World Cup.

"So when you're a sport that's got two big national teams, men and women, and we're able to attract big competition to Australia like the Women's World Cup. I really think it puts us at a very competitive, competitive advantage over other sports in the country and that was really the strategy behind it."

In 2007, there may not have been a legacy strategy but the Matildas sure left one. They won their very first World Cup match and progressed to the country's very first quarter-final in a major tournament.

This time, with a legacy plan, world-renowned players donning the green and gold, a World Cup on home soil and a commercialisation strategy in place, Tony Gustavsson's side and Australian football have never been better placed.

Walsh said the work in 2023 - and this cohort of players - would likely be remembered in history as a turning point for the sport. She said:

"In 20 years' time, I think this will be the time where we thought critically about the women's game and decided that the current setup and the way in which it was designed, by men for men, needed to change, and we've been able to really leverage the Matildas to affect that change in all parts of the game.

"(The docu-series was) a showcase for what being a Matilda is. Take a young girl from Cowra like Ellie (Carpenter), she's a great character, but she's still just a young woman who's just been all around the world and achieved so much and it tells young girls that's what the pinnacle of our sport can look like.

"It's not just going to the Olympics or going to World Cup. It's starting in the (A-League Women) here and then it's moving on to a massive club like Chelsea and then travelling the globe. Some of the countries these players go to play for the national team, what a life, so I think it's a really good kind of mirror into what life could be for a young girl turning up at a football club."

The World Cup kicks off in less than three months' time and all eyes will be on the Matildas on July 20 for their opening match against the Republic of Ireland in Sydney/Gadigal.

Originally published for Optus Sport on May 5, 2023