For some, Cortnee Vine has gone from “zero to hero” in a roller-coaster 12 months – becoming the poster girl of the Liberty A-League and an established member of the Matildas. But in the eyes of her Sydney FC coach, she has been a standout for far longer.
There was interest from abroad at the end of the 2021-22 season. It was no surprise following a career-best campaign that yielded nine goals and two assists in 12 games as Sydney won the Premiership and reached the Grand Final.
Vine, though, opted to remain in the Liberty A-League for 2022-23. It’s only enhanced her Matildas position – the 24-year-old has now started in Australia’s last eight international fixtures.
Just over one year on from her Matildas debut, she is one of the first names on Tony Gustavsson’s team sheet as the FIFA Women’s World Cup looms. It says a lot about the Liberty A-League and Vine.
“I think she respects the A-Leagues and knows it’s a good standard,” Sydney head coach Ante Juric told KEEPUP.
“Often you don’t get that, people think they have to go to Denmark or Sweden, where probably the A-Leagues is better than that standard. But they probably get sold the wrong view of the A-Leagues.
“She is very strong. She knew the Sydney environment would help her. She’s comfortable In herself knowing she probably needed another year. But knowing the league is a good level. You know what? You don’t have to be overseas to get into the Aussie team. She’s proved it. So has [Western Sydney Wanderers captain] Clare Hunt.
“She obviously knew it would help her to stay another year. In saying that, she might’ve gotten deals in lower leagues and she knows she is better than that and probably why she stayed and is waiting for a really good opportunity.”
Vine’s light shined bright during the Cup of Nations in New South Wales this week.
She scored an absolute worldie against one of the best teams in the world – seventh-ranked Spain – as Australia won 3-2 on Sunday.
Vine also flew the flag for the Liberty A-League as one of only five Australia-based players in the Matildas squad, alongside Western Sydney’s Clare Hunt, Brisbane Roar’s Katrina Gorry and Larissa Crummer, and Melbourne Victory midfielder Elise Kellond-Knight.
That’s before you consider Alex Chidiac, who has since returned to National Soccer Women’s League (NWSL) outfit Racing Louisville at the conclusion of her Victory loan agreement.
“It’s a tough league. It’s not an easy league,” Juric said ahead of Sunday’s trip to Wellington Phoenix. “Any girls that play in there and do well, they’re a high-level standard.
You saw her playing against international standard teams and she’s killing it. She is one of the best Matildas. That shows you the level it is.
“If it was a mickey-mouse league, she wouldn’t be starting for the Matildas. If the fitness wasn’t good in the league, she wouldn’t be starting for the Matildas. If the standard or her understanding wasn’t good, she wouldn’t be starting for the Matildas.
“That tells you everything. It’s a good level and it can push you to other levels. It’s not just a place where I can do well there and go overseas. The only problem is it’s not full-time but it’s allowed her to grow. It’s allowed her to get the minutes. All the things like that have helped get her to where she has to.”
That goal against Spain – it was a moment of individual brilliance. A first-time strike from distance that curled into the top-right corner of the net.
It set the tone in Western Sydney. It also had her Sky Blues coach smiling from home.
“It’s enormous satisfaction,” he said. “One, because especially where she came from. She came to us not as a regular starter at other clubs. She came to us and exploded in a lot of ways.
“Super satisfied and happy for her because she deserves it. She’s worked hard and it’s taken her a couple of years to get there. We probably saw she could’ve been there a couple of years ago in our view. But she’s worked hard and didn’t get down when she didn’t get picked. She kept working hard.
To see that and the smile on her face, it was something special for me watching at home. But we’re really proud of all our girls who get to that level and do well.
The face behind the smile
She’s the smiling assassin and poster girl of the Liberty A-League, but there have been some tough times for Vine, who, at one stage, fell out of love with football. It was in the midst of the pressure to make the Matildas squad by the age of 20.
“I hated the game a bit,” she told ABC Sport recently.
Since joining Sydney in 2020, Vine certainly appears to be enjoying her football again.
Through 11 appearances this season, she has three goals and four assists for the reigning premiers, who are third in the standings and six points behind leaders Western United with two games in hand.
“Sydney FC has to take credit for that,” added Juric. “I’m not talking about me. I’m talking about the players, the club, how we play the game. It is a place where a lot of our girls are happy just being there. Don’t’ worry about the football.
“That also then comes out when you’re happy in an environment and you’re enjoying yourself, and you’re allowed to express yourself. Mistakes and pressure doesn’t cause players to be negative. It’s all part of the game so we allow them to make mistakes. The environment is excellent, so that’s helped.
“She is definitely happy. You can tell she is. And she will only get better when she plays in a happy frame of mind. We’re proud at Sydney FC to have that culture, and a place where they feel comfortable but allowed to grow as well.
“And it’s not an easy environment. It’s not like a cushy one where you’re singing happy songs. You have to work hard and get better.”
Front and centre of the Matildas
The mental side of the game has proved challenging at times for Vine, especially once specific goals have been ticked off.
Her Matildas debut as the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup the highlight.
Then there is everything else that comes with being a popular Matildas based in the Liberty A-League, namely media.
She is often front and centre for announcements around the national team as she now plays alongside the likes of superstar Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley. How has she handled the attention?
“I think initially she might’ve struggled,” said Juric, who agreed it is frightening that there is still so much more upside to Vine.
It’s tough for someone who, in other people’s eyes, has gone from zero to hero because for us for three-four years, she has been a standout. So she probably should’ve been picked earlier.
“I think especially up until a month ago, she struggled with all that because she isn’t one of those characters who seeks attention. She was on everything. She just come back and all of a sudden she was a starter.
“I think she felt the pressure initially at the start of the year. Then we’ve had our chats and I’ve told her not to worry about all that. Play how we know you can play, and just put everything into it. Everything is fine, we don’t expect you score three goals a game or dribble every single person. I think she got it.
Then last couple of weeks in particular, she is back to her usual self with freedom and understanding. The same Cortnee Vine, just with a bit more media.
