'I've got that drive back': Sam Kerr hungry for goals in CommBank Matildas return   

It’s been two years since CommBank Matilda Sam Kerr last played on home soil.

As she continues her comeback from a lengthy ACL injury, Kerr, one of the world’s most lethal strikers, opens up about her mindset during recovery, how she uses her own journey to inspire the next generation and her aspirations for the upcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026.

Kerr’s connection to the tournament runs deep. She was just 16 years old when she helped Australia secure their historic victory at the 2010 tournament - the last time the Matildas lifted the trophy. Now, 15 years later, she’s preparing to lead her country as the competition returns to her home soil.

With her new chapter as a mother, her leadership as captain, and her unwavering drive to push women’s football forward, Sam Kerr’s story is one of strength, unity and hope - the perfect reflection of what’s to come when the Matildas lead the charge at home in 2026.

CommBank is the official sponsor of the AFC 2026 Asian Cup and as excitement builds for the major tournament, Matildas captain Sam Kerr sits down with CBA Newsroom’s Michelle Escobar in an exclusive interview.

Full interview

Sam, thanks so much for joining us on CBA Newsroom, how are you going?
Yeah, I'm feeling good. Excited to be back in camp and excited to be back in arms.

How’s the jet lag going?
It's going alright. I mean, it's always a battle, but I'm used to that with lots of travel. But yeah, it's okay for now.

You'll be playing your first match on Australian home soil in two years when the Matildas take on New Zealand. How are you feeling about that?
Being back in Australia is amazing, being back with the girls. There's a different buzz around the team when we're back in Oz compared to overseas, so I'm feeling really excited and just trying to enjoy every moment being back with the girls.

You've been out of action for a while because of that ACL injury. How did you overcome the mindset of going through that? Was there anything different, given that you've had your fair share of difficult injuries in the past?
Yeah, I think probably a lot of the same. I think I was lucky I had a long time without any injuries, and then to go back to being injured was quite tough. But I think it's the same as any injury, really - a lot of hard work, dedication and sacrifice. And it's not easy. But I guess that's what sport's about, right? I just had to be resilient and keep showing up every day.

Now you've come back with a bang, having scored in your first appearance back for Chelsea, and then you scored a couple of goals in the Women's Champions League as well. It must give you a real confidence boost.
Yeah, I mean as a striker it's always nice to score, of course. Coming off such a long injury, it was kind of nice to just get the monkey off my back and just enjoy being back out there and not have the pressure of scoring. But now that I've scored a couple, I've got that drive back to want to score 20 goals a season and put the pressure right back on. So it was a short-lived, no-pressure time in my career, I guess. I'm just loving being back out there and hopefully can score some more. It just makes me hungry for more goals.

ACL injuries can be career-defining. What advice would you give to young players who face similar setbacks?
I think the biggest bit of advice I would give is just live your own journey. Every ACL is so different, you can’t compare. Every injury is so different, to be honest. You can't compare yourself to others and where they're at. Just stay in your own lane and focus on the next task in front of you. That definitely helped me. Rather than trying to catch other people or rush the process, just focus one day at a time.

And you've had some great support around you, right?
Yeah, I'm lucky. I'm in a high-performance environment at Chelsea and with the national team backing behind me. But I also have great friends and family, which is the most important part. Leaning on them has been a real big part of my injury journey.

You've spoken about being 100 per cent match fit, but you still need more miles in your legs with the upcoming games. What are you hoping to achieve individually and for the national team?
Yeah, it's a bit of a journey. I've come off a year and a half without playing. This is my first time traveling overseas with a lot of game minutes behind me. So, there are a lot of variables - load, travel, fatigue. My expectation is to be ready and fit for the Asian Cup. This is a building block. I want to give my best and play every minute I can, but that's not the reality at the moment. The main priority for me is the Asian Cup, so I want to be fit and ready for then.

Let's talk about that Asian Cup because it's kicking off in your hometown Perth. How are you feeling about that - being able to play in front of family, friends and local fans?
Yeah, it feels awesome. I obviously had the privilege of being at the World Cup in 2023, but unfortunately we didn’t get a Perth game. I was pretty disappointed about that. But now that we have the home game at Optus - the opening game - what better way to open the Asian Cup? It’s kind of a little reward for Perth. I think a lot of Perth fans were disappointed about the World Cup, so now’s their chance to come out, support the girls, and set us up for a good tournament.

This is one of the last international windows before the Asian Cup. How will you approach these matches?
Every minute, every second is so valuable. We don’t have many games before the Asian Cup, and with everyone playing all over the world now, it’s important that we make sure every session, every gym session, every moment counts. We’ve got to make the most of it. We’re in full prep mode at the moment. Of course, we have to prepare for New Zealand, but in the back of our minds is the Asian Cup.

What about that home crowd support? We saw unprecedented levels during the Women's World Cup back in 2023. How much does that home support make a difference, especially during those challenging matches?
The home support is amazing - the buzz you get walking out of the tunnel, the fans going wild. I think we’ve had some of our best performances at home, and that’s no surprise. When you play in front of your friends, family and fans wearing your jersey, it’s just special. Singing the national anthem with the crowd behind you - there’s nothing like it.

You were part of the Asian Cup team that won back in 2010 when you were a fresh-faced 16-year-old. How much would it mean to replicate that success on home soil?
That would be a dream come true. When we won in 2010, I thought it would happen every time we played the Asian Cup - but we haven’t done it since. So, this would be a full-circle moment. It shows how important this tournament is, not only to me, but to the whole group. It would be massive for us, for the fans, and for everyone involved.

You've been a strong advocate for grassroots football and supported initiatives like CommBank’s Growing Football Fund. How important are programs like this, and how much difference would they have made when you were young?
It would have made a huge difference. When I was young, we didn’t have many opportunities or visibility for the game. CommBank being involved is amazing for the visibility - from grassroots to senior levels. It shows young people that there’s a pathway, that they can make it. At my age, we probably lost a lot of great footballers who just didn’t have the opportunity or couldn’t see where the game could take them. Having partners like CommBank grows visibility, grows the sport, and strengthens our national teams.

You came into football a little older, didn’t you?
Yeah, I was 12. I was very AFL focused back then and wasn’t even aware of women’s football. If I’d seen the Matildas on billboards or TV, it would have opened my eyes to a whole new world.

For young players starting out, how powerful is it to know there’s a partner like CommBank backing the game?
It’s super powerful. To be able to see where you want to go is huge as a kid. You can’t dream of something you’ve never seen. CommBank’s support across all national teams, including the Socceroos, shows kids that their heroes are visible, and one day that can be them. That’s the most powerful gift - giving someone the ability to dream.

Now the next generation includes your baby boy - congratulations! How has motherhood changed your outlook on football and life?
Thank you! It’s actually interesting - I don’t think it’s changed my perspective on football. I still love the game and I’m all in when I’m there. But it’s changed my home life. When I come home, I’m not watching clips of myself anymore. I have better separation now, and it’s been healthy. I don’t stew over games. I come home, take care of him, and it gives me a new perspective. It’s been so much fun, more fun than people prepare you for.

Who’s he going to represent?
Probably Australia, he’s got an Aussie passport. But I’ll let him decide. We were laughing about what accent he’ll have - probably a hybrid of English, American and Aussie.

Downloadable video

• Sam Kerr interview - downloadable from Dropbox