Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
If Australian football’s glaring spotlight turns towards Cortnee Vine again, this time the Matildas winger feels ready to handle it.
Former Sydney FC star Vine was catapulted to fame when her winning spot kick in a marathon penalty shootout against France sent the Matildas into a 2023 Women’s World Cup semi-final.
While the dynamic winger earned a move to American club North Carolina Courage, Vine struggled with the intense spotlight and took time away from the game for mental health reasons.
Now 27, Vine is back in Australia with Melbourne City, rediscovering her love for the game and delivering classy goals and assists in the A-League Women and Women’s Asian Champions League.
“Obviously being overseas, part of it was a rough time for me,” Vine told AAP.
“I did a lot of learning. I went through a lot of my own things over there.
“But coming back … I really just wanted to play. Being overseas, I didn’t really play for the last few years.
“I just wanted to come back, be in an environment that I love, which is back in Australia, get game time and just get back out there and enjoy it.”
An older Vine has strategies in place to help with her mental health.
“All the journeys you have in your life, you learn from. So I learnt a lot over these last few years,” she said.
“Bursting onto the scene was crazy, so that was a really crazy time. But I wouldn’t know how to deal with it if I didn’t go through it.
“Now that I’ve experienced that, I feel like I have some better tools and I just know what works for me a bit better.”
Vine wants trophies at City, who return to A-League Women action at home to Newcastle on Saturday.
Beyond enjoying herself, her goals are simple.
“Getting consistent 90-minute games under my belt and hopefully just getting back to that confident player that I was before the World Cup,” Vine said.
Matildas coach Joe Montemurro will next week name his squad for upcoming friendlies against Colombia.
He is generally prioritising players based overseas, but Vine hopes she and others can put their names up in lights.
“I haven’t heard anything as of yet,” Vine said.
“For me, obviously I want to be part of that squad leading into the World Cup, but it’s in Joe’s hands.
“There’s a lot of girls that can have potential. It’s just hopefully they’re being looked at.”
However that plays out, Vine is adamant her best football is ahead of her.
“I hope there’s a lot more to come, personally. I’m getting there. I’m being very patient with myself,” Vine said.
“If you’re looking at where I’ve been, and what I’ve done, and what I’ve gone through, I’m just being patient with myself, trying to not get in my head too much and just go out there.
“Each game will add a bit more confidence. I’m hoping there’s a bit more in the tank.”
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