Mary Fowler in action during a Matildas training session in July 2024. Photo Credit: Rachel Bach/Football Australia

Mary Fowler in action during a Matildas training session in July 2024. Photo Credit: Rachel Bach/Football Australia

One of the biggest questions that has been asked of the Matildas throughout the last few years, including Tony Gustavsson’s entire tenure, is how to get the best out of Mary Fowler.

Her talent is undeniable and at 22 years old, the same age as Holly McNamara, is easily a key component of the squad to build the attack around for the next five to ten years.

Fowler has been tried as an 8, a 10, a false nine, an out and out nine, and as a winger in different set-ups and formations throughout Gustavsson’s tenure, but was never able to break through and showcase her entire skill-set and reach the talent and skill level it is clear she has.

It was also an issue which plagued her club career, until the start of the 2024/25 season, when former Manchester City coach Gareth Taylor worked out that playing her as a winger might bring success, and she currently has her highest domestic career goals and assists tally at 13 (six goals, seven assists).

Under Taylor, she’s played at left-wing, right-wing, and striker, but is having the most success out wide, and this was also showcased in the second game against South Korea in Newcastle for the Matildas.

Her move out wide for the Matildas came about after a discussion between interim coach Tom Sermanni and Fowler, and it paid dividends, with Fowler finding a goal for the first time in her last 13 games.

Fowler said after Monday’s win that she really likes playing on the wing.

“I see a lot of the field from there and just a lot of different angles, so I enjoyed being there tonight,” she said.

“I think on a personal level, I want to be a bit more consistent with my performances in the national team, so I think being out in that position made it a bit easier to be in a role I’ve played quite a bit this season.”

Who has to make way to fit Fowler in at wing?

If you run with the premise, admittedly off of one friendly game against South Korea at national team level, that Fowler’s best position is on the wings and her club form in the position translates to the Matildas, the big question is who has to be the odd person out to fit Fowler in.

Caitlin Foord is not getting left out, and she can only play left-wing in terms of the wide positions so putting her on the right is not an option. At a stretch she can play as a striker, but you don’t want to use her up top given McNamara is available, followed by Michelle Heyman as seemingly the third choice option once Sam Kerr returns, which also rules Fowler out as a 9.

So that leaves right-wing as the only conceivable option for Fowler to play in the front three, which could see the departure of stalwart Hayley Raso out of the starting side, which also then creates a back-log of names like Cortnee Vine at right-wing who would have to sit behind Fowler and wait for a chance to shine.

With Raso struggling for game-time, her position for the Matildas might not be as locked on as it has been, particularly given she is on her fourth club in five years, and might be on the lookout for a fifth given she has removed all references to Tottenham on her social media bios.

It would not be a popular option amongst fans, but it is the one that makes the most sense when everyone is fit and healthy, assuming that Fowler can perform at her best on the right side of the field.

That is not to say Raso could not be a bench option and starting the occasional game because Fowler won’t play 90 minutes every game of every window, but she would not be the first choice option in order to fit Fowler in where she would play best.

Who will be the one to make the call?

Ultimately, the decision will have to come down to whoever the new coach is, with speculation continuing to run rampant that Joe Montemurro will be the next Matildas coach.

One person it won’t be is Mel Andreatta, who joins Leah Blayney in having departed the national team set-up, with the former assistant coach leaving her role to coach the Scotland Women’s National Team.

Whoever the coach is will have their job cut out for them, because not only will they have to evaluate all the players at their disposal, they will have to try and embed their system and tactics, and then work out how to best fit the players into that system.

With a minimum of eight games (and a maximum of 11) before the Asian Cup, presuming the new coach takes over before the May/June window which will feature two games against Argentina, that is not a lot of time to achieve all of that and find success as the Asian Cup.

With the amount of time having passed since Tony Gustavsson’s departure that has, success at the Asian Cup is a must.

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