By Nick Creely
If there is a 16-year-old with a better soccer CV than Molly Burke, it’d be a genuine surprise.
And if all goes to plan for the Haileybury student – currently attending the Keysborough campus – a call-up to the Matildas surely isn’t that far away.
The right back/defensive midfielder, who currently plays for the NTC (National Training Centre) of Victoria – otherwise known as the Victorian state team – always dreamt of representing her country, until she did in January of this year.
As part of the Australian Schools Under-19 team, Burke headed abroad with her team-mates from all corners of the country.
“We went over to the UK and Ireland to play in a 10-match tournament against other countries and premier league youth teams,” she said.
“We were undefeated overall, and only drew one game against Northern Ireland.
“We played many teams such as Cardiff United, the Republic of Ireland, Wales, Bristol City, Scotland, England, England School Girls team, and a university team from England, with our best win against Scotland which we won 12 – 0.”
The team was selected from the School Sport Australia soccer tournament held in Perth in November of 2016.
“I have been playing in this tournament since I was in Year 8, and it had always been my goal to make into that squad and to go to the UK,” she said.
“After the tournament, an Australian squad of 18 (out of over 100 female players) was announced and I was lucky enough to have been selected.
“It was both a mentally and physically demanding situation to be thrown into a team with girls you don’t know and have never played with before, and to have to prove yourself to a new coach in such a short amount of time.”
She was even lucky enough to play with her 13-year-old younger sister, Alicia Burke.
“The girls gelled exceptionally from the beginning, with no discrimination because of age, skill or where we came from,” she said.
“The only thing that mattered was that everyone gave 110 per cent on and off the field.”
With many of the squad going on to play or train with W-League teams, university teams or Youth Matilda’s camp, Burke understands the sky is the limit.
“This experience was something I had worked towards for years, and finally getting the opportunity to play in such a high level environment with an amazing group of girls was something I will never forget,” she said.
Molly is also excited about the upcoming National FFA U17 Championship and the School Sport Australia Pacific Games Tournament in Adelaide.
“I’m really excited to see how Victoria goes in both tournaments this year.”
