The Matildas Are Lighting Up My TikTok
It’s hard to ignore the shining stars of Australia at the moment. I’m obviously talking about the Matildas football team who are not only dominating the field but also my TikTok For You page. Naturally, I can’t get enough.
It all started when my housemate told me she was all over Matildas TikTok. Her feed was flooded with content; when we were watching the most recent game, she knew all the inside jokes, drama, and info about the players. Listening to her, I felt what I can only describe as envy — actually no, yearning. I was longing to have all the tea my housemate did. So when the first Matildas TikTok finally came up on my For You page, I was elated. Here’s one of my faves:
I can safely say that watching the girls meet Cathy Freeman made me tear up. It’s incredible to see the Matildas, who themselves are helping kick down barriers around women’s sport, meet Cathy Freeman, one of our greatest, trailblazing athletes.
Tears aside, the Matildas official TikTok account is filled with light-hearted fun between the players. Like asking them who is the biggest whinger on the field:
Or trying to uncover the great mystery of why Mary Fowler wears gloves:
I’m putting it on record: whoever is running the official Matildas TikTok is a genius and deserves several pay rises.
What I really love about these TikToks is how the vids allow us to step into their world, connecting us to the people we watch with great anticipation on our screens. (I’m already stressed for Wednesday.) I can only imagine the joy and adoration a young girl feels watching these TikToks, too. Hell, I’m almost crying happy tears!
It’s not just the official Matildas TikTok that keeps me entertained for hours on end, it’s the player’s personal accounts too. In particular, Mackenzie Arnold — affectionately now known as the Australian Minister for Defence — and Alanna Kennedy have some of the funniest accounts of all the players. I mean, just look at the material.
Aside from being one of the best goalies in the game, Mackenzie has the makings of a huge TikTok star. In fact, I think she already is:
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want the World Cup to end. I don’t want to stop watching the brilliance that is women’s football. If only our nation better funded and supported women’s sport so that we can watch these incredible players all the time. Should we start a TikTok campaign?
Ky is a proud Kamilaroi and Dharug person and writer at Junkee. Follow them on X.
Image credit: AAP Image / Darren England