The poise, vision and pin-point distribution. Mary Fowler’s defence-splitting pass to unlock Denmark encapsulated her quality under the bright lights of Stadium Australia on Monday night.
Fowler was never flustered on the big stage that is the FIFA Women’s World Cup round of 16, and Caitlin Foord was the beneficiary.
The A-Leagues graduate showed why she is so highly rated with composure beyond her years as she sucked in one opponent and turned another before releasing Foord to open the scoring in Sydney.
It was a moment of magic from the 20-year-old, who made it look easy.
“That was just incredible. One of the most beautiful, precise, outstanding passes you’re ever going to see,” former Socceroo Craig Foster said on Channel 9’s Today Show on Tuesday morning.
“That pass graces any football field at any level in the world. To produce it then, in this game, just shows what an amazing competitor and phenomenal talent she is.”
Fowler is the youngest member of the Matildas’ squad, and when her side needed her the most she delivered a performance beyond her years to help guide the co-hosts through to the quarter-finals.
The former Adelaide United youngster has been talked up as the next big thing to come out of Australia.
Fowler scored three goals in seven Liberty A-League appearances in 2019-20 before making the move to Europe. Prior to joining Montpellier, she was teammates and lived with Dylan Holmes in Adelaide.
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“You could tell she had so much talent but I think the thing that was so amazing with Mary, physically she was so mature,” Holmes said on Dub at the Cup.
“She was very strong and quick. As a 16-year-old, to me that was something I hadn’t really seen before.
“Her mindset towards her football career, again, was something I hadn’t seen before at that age.
“She was really unique and you knew she’d go on and achieve really big things.”
In a week in which some media pundits suggested the Matildas’ campaign lacked cut-through, Fowler had a direct role in both goals against Denmark.
“Mary has been class this whole tournament,” Foord said. “You know when she’s on the ball, she’s going to create and it makes my job easier.
“She has unbelievable talent and we’re very lucky to have her.”
It’s a pass which is likely to played over and over, and for Fowler it could prove to be a seminal moment in her career.
The Queenslander’s potential has never been in question but before this tournament coach Tony Gustavsson had earmarked her as one of his “game-changers” who could make an impact from the bench.
Sam Kerr’s injury threw all of that out of the window, but Fowler belied her tender years against Denmark in a mature performance reflective of a starter.
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Her defence-splitting pass was one part of her game, but she also showed her smartness in her ability to draw fouls when she needed to relieve her side of pressure.
She topped things off by being heavily involved in her side’s second, playing a one-two with Kyra Cooney-Cross before sending in the pass which led to Hayley Raso’s strike.
“I didn’t think we activated Mary as much as we could have, especially in the first half,” Gustavsson said.
“We looked dangerous on the break and she is key to that. “The way she weights passes to get players in is world class.”
Fowler came into the tournament on the back of the Women’s Super League (WSL) campaign in which she did not start for Manchester City.
She made 11 substitute appearances, but as she continues to star at the World Cup, she is set to force City’s hand.
“She is playing really well and bossing it in the midfield for the Matildas, so I hope City look at Mary and give her more game time,” said Holmes.
