For Jenna McCormick, being home and playing for Adelaide United when she ticks over to the 100 game mark is a special feeling, but the changes along her journey are perhaps more exciting for the Reds defender.
“When I signed my first contract, the most obvious change was earning zero dollars,” McCormick said.
“So we’ve come a long way in that regard.”
McCormick credited Professional Footballers Australia and the collective bargaining agreements for raising the standard to a higher level, including the introduction of a minimum wage.
“Seeing the development of all of that and coming back to Adelaide this year, compared to my last experience with the club in 2018 – there’s been huge changes,” she said.
“It seems like now they’re starting to put their money where their mouth is and provide the resources we need.”
The improvements at Adelaide include a new facility at Gepps Cross and staff members, who McCormick said were willing to help in every way possible.
“I think it’s really good, I think we’ve definitely got some areas we could still improve and still get better across the league and from the clubs – definitely,” McCormick said.
“But for now it’s at a minimum standard that you should be able to expect from most clubs in A-League Women.”
Whilst some of the improvements aren’t quite tangible, she said having proper facilities and resourcing, such as accommodation and support staff, took away extra stress.
“… and sort of makes your life a bit easier as a footballer,” she said.
“The environment is now a place where you can succeed and do very well and [has] all the ingredients you need to do your best.”
According to McCormick, the biggest battle on the horizon is financial.
“That’s the next major thing in terms of game time, it has now come to a point where if you wanted to stay in Australia for the game time to play to remain in form, to go to the next level, you can now do that in Australia,” McCormick said.
Overseas reality
The traditional, well-trodden pathway for Australian players is to gain extra playing time in Europe, due to the shorter A-League Women’s season.
Having played at European clubs including AGF in Denmark, Spain’s Real Betis and Stjarnan in Iceland, McCormick was realistic about players’ experiences abroad.
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“A lot of people had good experiences, but a lot of people have had bad experiences,” she said.
“And I think more often than not, you don’t have a great, perfect experience, unless you’re at the biggest and best clubs in top flight leagues in the world, which is just the reality of it.”
She said the longer ALW season allowed players to push for national team selection without having to go overseas.
Right time to go home
After a “good experience” in Denmark with her partner, McCormick said the pull of returning home to family, as well as finances, played a part in her return.
“Coming back to Adelaide, knowing that Adelaide players who have been here for quite some time now,” she said.
“Knowing that we would have a decent team and competitive team, and I spoke to [Adrian] Stenta, the coach before and I liked what he was doing, so it all sort of ties into itself.
“It was important for me outside of football to also have that time to spend with my partner and family. For me now it’s really important to think about outside football stuff and that matters a lot to me.
“I’ve always felt attached to the club and invested in the club, because I am South Australian. So that’s a massive thing as well.”
Teammates and foes
While reaching 100 A-League Women games wasn’t on McCormick’s mind when she first pulled on United’s jersey in 2012, she said she had known it was around the corner.
“It’s going to be nice to finally hit it, and just looking back over the last 10 years – starting in Adelaide and reaching 100 in Adelaide, it’s home and a special feeling being able to do it here as well,” McCormick said.
Over that time, the defender has come up against high quality opposition, including many former and current Matildas. Outside of the current Australian forward line, there were a few other players she considered tough to go up against. McCormick listed Jasmyne Spencer, Kate Gill, Savannah McCaskill and Jess Fishlock among the best.
Meanwhile, having played for five ALW clubs, McCormick has played with a raft of different defenders who brought their own strengths.
“I’ve certainly enjoyed my time across the league in that sense of playing with different defenders, but I suppose probably my 2018 year at Brisbane Roar with Polks was just the best,” McCormick said.
“She’s obviously a phenomenal player and person. We had some success there and felt that we were pretty strong and worked well together.”
The Matildas push is still on
McCormick said her Matildas hopes were still in the back of her mind, despite not having been in camp for more than 12 months.
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“I’m realistic on I suppose, perhaps where I sit, but that’s not diminishing any motivation to get back in,” she said.
“I just want to play well each week, do my job, play my role for the team and then hopefully if that brings some rewards come the World Cup next year, then I’ll obviously and undoubtedly take that opportunity with both hands.
“But it’s just going to be a matter of who Tony [Gustavsson] wants as those centre backs and then the back-up centre backs.
“I don’t really, to be honest, know where I stand.”
She described her years playing in Australia as awesome, fun and rewarding.
“I’ve had some good years, and I’ve had not so good years – and it’s just been a roller coaster of a career so far, but I’m not done yet,” McCormick said.
“First and foremost, focusing on this year with United. Hopefully we can finally win a championship.”
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