1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: Welcome to them, Christian No Common Show podcast. 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:06,120 Speaker 2: It is the Women's World Cup. 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,480 Speaker 3: It begins this afternoon, kicking off the opening ceremony in 4 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 3: New Zealand, who are co hosting it with Australia, and 5 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 3: then all eyes are on the Matilda is tonight at 6 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 3: seven thirty. This is exciting. I'm really excited watching it 7 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,080 Speaker 3: to not on the couch with my daughters. It's a 8 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 3: big moment in sporting history and it's right here in Australia. 9 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 3: The world is going to be watching. Just in Patsy's News, 10 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 3: they're talking about a record breaking one point four million 11 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:32,840 Speaker 3: tickets have been sold, which is incredible. On the line 12 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:35,520 Speaker 3: right now. He's always the master ofssemonies. He's the voice 13 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 3: of sport in Australia. He really is the goat. You 14 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 3: can't have sport on TV without this man. He's on 15 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 3: the show right now. Bruce Back of any Good morning. 16 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:48,479 Speaker 1: Christian, Good morning to you. It is an exciting night. 17 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: You've summed it up so well. 18 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 3: Now before we get into the women's soccer, this week's 19 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,319 Speaker 3: been a big sporting week here in Melbourne with Dan 20 00:00:57,360 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 3: Andrews announcement that we're not going to have the common 21 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 3: Wealth Games. 22 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 2: What's your take on that, Bruce. 23 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 1: Look, I was pretty shocked. I didn't see it coming 24 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:12,039 Speaker 1: and disappointed. Surely there could have been a way that 25 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: we could have hosted these games in Victoria. I thought 26 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: the plan was a good one. The costs, obviously we're 27 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: going to be a big problem. But it leaves a 28 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: really bad taste. I think it puts the Commonwalth Games 29 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:31,040 Speaker 1: in a precarious position. It does damage Victoria Melbourne's reputation, 30 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 1: certainly in the short term. So yeah, I think the 31 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 1: lack of consultation between the Premiere and the Commawk Games 32 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:43,680 Speaker 1: Association was pretty disappointing, to be honest. So we move 33 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: on and the Commork Games and now has to try 34 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: and find some one to host those games in three 35 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 1: years time. And I'm a fan of perhaps bedding it 36 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: down in one place or two places over the next day, 37 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: three or four games, just to make sure that it 38 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 1: does have a future. Because Christian it's played such an 39 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 1: important part not just in the history of Australian athletics 40 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 1: and sport, but also in bringing the Commonwealth together. I've 41 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 1: been lucky enough to go to a lot of these 42 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:15,959 Speaker 1: Commonwealth Games. Yeah, and Melbourne in two thousand and six 43 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 1: was such a success. So overall I think it was 44 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:20,639 Speaker 1: very disappointing. 45 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 3: Do you know what, maybe some of these private schools 46 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:26,839 Speaker 3: and the amazing sports facilities they have in Melbourne, they 47 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,359 Speaker 3: could have easily You don't need to build new stadiums, 48 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 3: they've already got to these stadiums. Some of these schools 49 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 3: in Melbourne could have easily hosted the Commonwealth Games, actually 50 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 3: better than anything new that Dan Andrews would have built. 51 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 2: Anyway. Well, that's on a different note. 52 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 3: Then let's talk about tonight and it's the start of 53 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:44,639 Speaker 3: something that's really about now. The comm Wealth Games hast 54 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 3: been about going on for decades and decades. 55 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 2: Women's soccer has been getting bigger and. 56 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 3: Bigger and bigger, and tonight is the start of something 57 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 3: really exciting. I think with the number of tickets being sold, 58 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 3: games sold out, you must be excited. 59 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,799 Speaker 1: I am. Look, I'm in Sydney, been here for a 60 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 1: couple of days and it's the closest thing I felt 61 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 1: to what the Olympics were about in two thousand. It's 62 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 1: not quite the buzz we had that day when the 63 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 1: opening ceremony was about to happen On that Friday, But 64 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 1: it's not that far short. I mean, it's been a 65 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,119 Speaker 1: huge build up. We've got a team that's much admired 66 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 1: and I think loved, and a team that's competitive and 67 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 1: right at the height of their powers. It's the big game. 68 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 1: We know that means the most number of people. And 69 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: you touched on it there, Christian with the revolution stroke 70 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 1: evolution of women's sports of the World Cup first stage 71 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: in nineteen ninety one, and for a while it probably 72 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: meandered along a bit and now it's absolutely taken off. 73 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 1: And you talk about those ticket sales, and I guess anecdotically, 74 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 1: the big thing about tonight was that this was going 75 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 1: to be at the Sydney Sports Stadium forty four thousand people, 76 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 1: and then they realized within about a week that the 77 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 1: demand was so great they had to shift it to 78 00:03:57,560 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: the Olympic Stadium and we do have to sell out 79 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: of eighty two thousand. Yeah, it really is, and I 80 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: think that tells the tale of just this is real, 81 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 1: This is not manufactured. This is absolutely real. What we'll 82 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: be seeing tonight in terms of the support for this 83 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 1: team and for the tournament in general. 84 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 3: Well, we've got six games here in Melbourne. Obviously, Amy 85 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 3: and a lot of Albernians you know, would have loved 86 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:21,040 Speaker 3: it to have been some of those at the mcg. 87 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 1: Brews well exactly, But I guess with the AFL season 88 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 1: still being writing right in the heart of the AFL season, 89 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 1: that was not going to happen. I mean, when the 90 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: Olympics happened in two thousand, the football finished in a 91 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 1: month earlier, they rearranged it. Now they're not going to 92 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 1: do that at this stage, so that that was the problem. 93 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 1: The stadium in Melbourne is much smaller, but it will 94 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: be absolutely rocking. You've got one massive match coming up 95 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 1: on July the thirty first year between Australia and Canada, 96 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: so that's going to be crucial because hopefully at that 97 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 1: stage that will be the battle for who finishes top 98 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: of our group. And if the finished top in the group, 99 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,360 Speaker 1: there's a very good chance you're going to avoid England 100 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: in the round of sixteen. So that match on July 101 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 1: thirty one will really be a big focus in Melbourne 102 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 1: and I think that the whole you know, the whole 103 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:17,160 Speaker 1: country will be watching that nine isn't incredible. 104 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:19,479 Speaker 3: The thing that obviously you know here in Australia. Everyone's 105 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 3: going to be watching tonight. The Matilda is chairing them 106 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 3: all around the country, but also around the world because 107 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:26,360 Speaker 3: obviously soccer is the biggest sport. 108 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:26,719 Speaker 2: Around the world. 109 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 3: How many young girls are going to watch it in 110 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 3: various countries over the next sixty odd games that are 111 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 3: going to be maybe inspired where twenty or thirty years 112 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,279 Speaker 3: ago they couldn't have been. We're going to inspire to 113 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:39,799 Speaker 3: actually become the next big stars of women's soccer. 114 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 1: Now you're spot on. I mean, this is one of 115 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:46,599 Speaker 1: the legacies that this World Cup will leave, will be 116 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:49,360 Speaker 1: for that next generation. And we've heard in the last 117 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:52,479 Speaker 1: you know, twenty four hours, forty eight hours about the 118 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 1: effect that Kathy Freeman had on this team and watching 119 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 1: somebody from another sport do something that's monumental and a 120 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 1: lot of our loved about my little I guess foura 121 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 1: into this sport in the last months has been that 122 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: the women that preceded this group are still alive, are 123 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:13,560 Speaker 1: still around this group. So you know that the woman 124 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 1: of Julie Dolan who had the first cap in nineteen 125 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: seventy eight, and you know when Australia first played as 126 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 1: an international team in those late seventies. They're still around 127 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 1: and they are still the role models for this team 128 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 1: and this team and what young women in this country 129 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: and boys see not only from the Matildas but from 130 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: the other great players of the world will be the 131 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: platform for the future for them as well. So it 132 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: is a really big, big opportunity for football stroke soccer 133 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:49,840 Speaker 1: to absolutely explode in this country because it's strong here, 134 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 1: but it's got a lot of competition here with another 135 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:57,719 Speaker 1: couple of very very popular football codes. 136 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 3: And do you think the Matildas can go on because 137 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 3: Albo has said obviously if they get into the finals 138 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 3: then it's a public holiday. 139 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: That's something to look forward to. I do. They're one 140 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 1: of probably six or eight teams that can win the 141 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 1: World Cup and it wouldn't be a shock. It would 142 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 1: be a surprise, but not a shock. So the favorite 143 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 1: is probably the United States and then the next group 144 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 1: just behind them are England, Spain, Germany and they're right 145 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,960 Speaker 1: at that shoulder. So need to get the job done tonight. 146 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:37,239 Speaker 1: It would be catastrophic if we were to lose tonight, 147 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 1: it would be very difficult to pick up the pieces. 148 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 1: So tonight's crucial. But I think this team can certainly 149 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: make a deep run and once you get maybe to 150 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 1: a quarter final, anything can happen. So Christian, the last 151 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 1: four World Cups that we've been involved in, we've made 152 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: a quarterfinal on three occasions and we've made the round 153 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 1: of sixteen. Surely with this team, with Sam Kerr and 154 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: those others around her that are at the peak of 155 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 1: their pairers in terms of the experience in their age, 156 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 1: with the home Crown support, they'll never get a bit 157 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 1: of chance. So I think they'll have a deep man. 158 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 3: You need to be in that locker room before kickoff 159 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 3: tonight to. 160 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 2: Give them the worse, just like Alberccino. 161 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:18,119 Speaker 3: You know, in any given sunday, I love how Bruce 162 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 3: you really are a master at what you do. You 163 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 3: are genuinely mean that. It's incredible. Listen to you just 164 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 3: it just rolls out of you. It's part of like 165 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 3: your breathing, isn't it. All those stats, the way you say, 166 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 3: those phrases at the shoulders, and that even at seven 167 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 3: point fifteen in the morning you can still do It's incredible. 168 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:35,280 Speaker 2: Do you miss doing so much commentary? 169 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 3: Now? 170 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 2: Are you enjoying the different part of your life now? 171 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: I must tell you, Christian, I've got a cup of 172 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 1: coffee in my head at the moment. It's really helping me. Look, 173 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 1: I do it's very difficult to let go. It is. 174 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 1: And you know I'm not calling AFL and that does. 175 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 1: Look it's not easy. I mean it happens to everybody. 176 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: I mean, you're not there, Jack's not there yet. But 177 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: you know I'm seventy, so you know there is a 178 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:03,560 Speaker 1: stage in your career where you have to cut back 179 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:07,080 Speaker 1: a bit. And I'm doing that and it's not easy 180 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: to let go. Everyone wants to stay real and everyone 181 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 1: wants to feel that they can contribute, and I'm doing 182 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:15,199 Speaker 1: that and so I'm still getting so much joy out 183 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: of my work. So I've been very, very fortunate with 184 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: seven in the planning that they've done around me and 185 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 1: the way that we've looked towards the future. So yeah, 186 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 1: last good. I'm still getting a great buzz out of it. 187 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: But I'm not the bloke I was thirty years ago. 188 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 2: And if I said that makes it so happy, I'm 189 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 2: glad you're enjoy it. 190 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,599 Speaker 3: You'll always be relevant, Seriously, You'll be the yardist that 191 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:40,680 Speaker 3: any future broadcaster is always going to be held up 192 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:43,200 Speaker 3: against your real your master, what you do and I'm 193 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:45,679 Speaker 3: looking forward to seeing and hearing you again tonight and 194 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 3: over the next couple of weeks with the Women's World Cup. 195 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 1: Bruce, Gretna pleasure you guys all the very best. 196 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 3: All right, we'll catch up sir and Bruce. Enjoy the 197 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:55,439 Speaker 3: Women's World Cup. Thanks for talking to us today. 198 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 1: Thank you. 199 00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 3: This is the Christian O'Connell Show podcast