Matildas superstar Mary Fowler don withdraw from di national team games dis month due to personal circumstances. Football Australia reveal di squad change on Tuesday morning. Di decision come after discussions between Fowler, Manchester City and Matildas staff, according to statement.
Fowler turn out for Manchester City in di Women’s Super League on Monday and help dem beat fellow powerhouse Arsenal 4-2. But she decline di chance to represent Australia in games against Germany and Haiti over di coming week. Leah Davidson replace her for di Matildas squad. Fellow superstar Kyra Cooney-Cross still absent from di team following di death of her mother.
While reason for Fowler absence no dey public, e come same time her partner and NRL superstar Nathan Cleary dey recover from double leg operation. Cleary go under knife last week after e suffer compound dislocation to im left leg during Penrith preliminary final loss to Newcastle. He get second operation on Saturday to fix broken bone in im right foot.
Cleary post photo from hospital showing both im legs in casts. Report talk say he don return home to im parents house to recover. He give shout out to Fowler when he accept di Dally M Medal last week while sitting on couch for home. Di pair don speak openly about juggling long-distance relationship, with both playing professional sport on opposite sides of di world.
Cleary go miss Australia Rugby League World Cup campaign as he recover from im injuries. But e mean say he fit get some unexpected time with Fowler while both Aussie stars off duty.
Mary Fowler Matildas teammates remain in di dark as to why di star attacker choose to sit out dia upcoming friendlies. Key Football Australia staff also caught by surprise by her mysterious last-minute withdrawal. Fowler had been selected in coach Joe Montemurro squad for Australia matches against Germany and Haiti, which be critical opportunities to bed down tactics and combinations ahead of next year FIFA Women’s World Cup.
But di 23-year-old no go dey involved due to undisclosed personal circumstances, while di national federation refuse to provide any further detail or background. Di decision was made after wetin FA statement describe as discussions between Fowler, her club Manchester City and di Matildas. Sources close to di situation, who no get authorization to speak publicly, tell dis masthead say senior FA officials no dey impressed, since dem only become aware of di matter when dem wake up on Tuesday morning and read di statement, wey dem distribute at 6.30am AEDT.
A day earlier, Fowler make her 100th appearance for Manchester City, coming off di bench in dia 4-2 Women’s Super League win over Arsenal. She no appear to suffer any injuries and don dey good form since start of di season. Di fact say both friendlies go take place for Europe, where Fowler dey based, suggest say travel-related conditioning or logistics no fit be factor. Fowler management also contacted for comment.
Matildas winger Hayley Raso talk say she only just learn say Fowler no go join di squad when she speak to Australian media via zoom late on Tuesday. She talk say, I never speak to Mary. I only just find out di news myself. Obviously, Mary na really valuable player for our team, so e sad say she no dey here at dis camp, but obviously, she get to take care of some personal circumstances.
While di matches be only friendlies, dem be valuable games for Montemurro in im planning for di World Cup, particularly as e relate to im utilization of Fowler, who still no get nailed-on position in im starting XI. Montemurro rarely get fully-fit Fowler at im disposal since e become coach of di Matildas in June 2025. Fowler only just recover from ACL injury in time to take part in di AFC Women’s Asian Cup earlier dis year, and was rested from dia FIFA Series matches in Kenya in April, before playing 90 minutes and 85 minutes in di team two home clashes with Mexico in June.
With Kyra Cooney-Cross also not selected after taking extended break following her mother cancer battle, e mean say Montemurro go dey without two of im likely three first-choice starters in midfield against world No. 3-ranked Germany, who di Matildas face for Karlsruhe on Saturday at 5.30am AEDT, before facing Haiti for Chambly, France next Wednesday at 6am AEDT.
There’s not that many camps or matches before di World Cup, so every one dey so important, Raso talk. Having game against top side like Germany dey really important. We know how tough and physical dem go be. We don play against dem few times before, and I think say these be di type of games we need to prepare us for wetin go come next year.
Dis no be first time Fowler voluntarily withdraw from squad after dem select her. However, when she skip di November window in 2024, reason dey provided: accumulation of mental and physical fatigue after demanding period of club football. Fowler also provide lengthy quote regarding her circumstances, which stand in sharp contrast with Tuesday brief, vague statement. Selected players rarely withdraw from international duty without at least some level of explanation. Di absence of information leave unanswered whether Fowler decision get any connection to di serious injuries suffer by her partner, NRL star Nathan Cleary, who dey recover for Sydney after surgery to both legs.
Three days after dem name Fowler for di Matildas squad, Cleary suffer compound fracture to im left leg while playing for di Penrith Panthers in dia NRL preliminary final defeat to di Newcastle Knights. Later dem reveal say he already dey carry stress fracture in im right foot. I also want to say big thanks to my partner, Cleary talk for im speech after winning di Dally M medal last week. E tough doing di long distance, but she always make me feel supported and loved, and that na all I ever ask for, and she just amazing.
Given her club commitments, international window go seem to be Fowler only chance in di immediate future to return to Sydney to spend time with Cleary. However, no confirmation from any party say dis na why she no go dey involved with di Matildas.
