1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,400 Speaker 1: Jurandurang Gold one four point three Thursday Morning, Christian O'Connell's 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: show on Gold twelve hours time. It is the Women's 3 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 1: World Cup, but begins this afternoon, kicking off the opening 4 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:12,799 Speaker 1: ceremony in New Zealand, who are co hosting it with Australia, 5 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: and then all eyes are on the Matilda is tonight 6 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:18,080 Speaker 1: at seven point thirty. This is exciting. I'm really excited 7 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: watching it to not on the couch with with my daughters. 8 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: It's a big moment in sporting history and it's right 9 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: here in Australia. The world is going to be watching. 10 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: Just in Patsy's News, they're talking about a record breaking 11 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:34,240 Speaker 1: one point four million tickets have been sold, which is incredible. 12 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: On the line right now, he's always the master assemblies, 13 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:39,879 Speaker 1: He's the voice of sport in Australia. He really is 14 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 1: the goat. You can't have sport on TV without this man. 15 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 1: He's on the show right now. Bruce tack of any 16 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:46,480 Speaker 1: Good morning. 17 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,639 Speaker 2: Christian, Good morning to you. It is an exciting night. 18 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 2: You've summed it up so well. 19 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: Now before we get into the women's soccer, this week's 20 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: been a big sporting week here in Melbourne with Dan Andrews. 21 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 1: Isn't it We're not going to have the Commonwealth Games. 22 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 1: What's your take on that, Bruce, Look, I was pretty shocked. 23 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 2: I didn't see it coming and disappointed. Surely there could 24 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 2: have been a way that we could have hosted these 25 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 2: games in Victoria. I thought the plan was a good one. 26 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 2: The costs, obviously we're going to be a big problem. 27 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 2: But it lely's a really bad taste. I think it 28 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 2: puts the Comonwalth Games in a precarious position. It does 29 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:35,960 Speaker 2: damage Victoria Melbourne's reputation certainly in the short term. So yeah, 30 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,959 Speaker 2: I think the lack of consultation between the Premiere and 31 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,839 Speaker 2: the Commawk Games Association was pretty disappointing to be honest. 32 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 2: So we move on and the Commork Games and now 33 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 2: has to try and find some one to host those 34 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 2: games in three years time. And I'm a fan of 35 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 2: perhaps betting it down in one place or two places 36 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 2: over the next three or four games, just to make 37 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 2: sure that it does have a future. Because Christian It's 38 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 2: played such an important part not just in the history 39 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 2: of Australian athletics and sport, but also in bringing the 40 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 2: Commonwealth together I've been lucky enough to go to a 41 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 2: lot of these Commonwealth Games. Yeah, and Melbourne in two 42 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 2: thousand and six was such a success, So overall I 43 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:22,799 Speaker 2: think it was very disappointing. 44 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 1: Do you know what, maybe some of these private schools 45 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 1: and amazing sports facilities they have in Melbourne they could 46 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 1: have easily You don't need to build new stadiums. They've 47 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 1: already got to these stadiums. Some of these schools in 48 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:37,959 Speaker 1: Melbourne could have easily hosted the Commonwealth Games, actually better 49 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 1: than anything new that Dan Andrews would have built. Anyway, 50 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: that's on a different note. Then let's talk about tonight 51 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:45,519 Speaker 1: and it's the start of something that's really about now. 52 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 1: The com Wealth Games hasn't been about going on for 53 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 1: decades and decades. Women's soccer has been getting bigger and 54 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 1: bigger and bigger, and tonight is the start of something 55 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: really exciting. I think with the number of tickets being sold, 56 00:02:57,280 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: games sold out, you must be excited. 57 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:03,959 Speaker 2: I am. Look, I'm in Sydney, been here for a 58 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:06,639 Speaker 2: couple of days and it's the closest thing I felt 59 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:09,640 Speaker 2: to what the Olympics were about in two thousand. It's 60 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 2: not quite the buzz we had that day when the 61 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:14,920 Speaker 2: opening ceremony was about to happen on that Friday. But 62 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 2: it's not that far short. I mean, it's been a 63 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 2: huge build up. We've got a team that's much admired 64 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 2: and I think loved, and a team that's competitive and 65 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:28,920 Speaker 2: right at the height of their powers. It's the big game. 66 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 2: We know that means the most number of people. And 67 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 2: you touched on it there, Christian with the revolution stroke 68 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 2: evolution of women's sports of the World Cup first stage 69 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 2: in nineteen ninety one, and for a while it probably 70 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 2: meandered along a bit and now it's absolutely taken off. 71 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 2: And you talk about those ticket sales, and I guess anecdotically, 72 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 2: the big thing about tonight was that this was going 73 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 2: to be at the Sydney Sports Stadium forty four thousand people, 74 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 2: and then they realized within about a week that the 75 00:03:57,920 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 2: demand was so great they had to shift it to 76 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 2: them still out of eighty two thousand. Yeah, it really is. 77 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 2: And I think that tells the tale of just this 78 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 2: is real, This is not manufactured. This this is absolutely 79 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 2: real what we'll be seeing tonight in terms of the 80 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 2: support for this team and for the tournament in general, well. 81 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 1: We've got six games here in Melbourne. Obviously, Amy and 82 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:21,280 Speaker 1: a lot of Albernians you know, would have loved it 83 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 1: to have been some of those at the mcg. 84 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:28,279 Speaker 2: Brews well exactly, But I guess with the AFL season 85 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 2: still being writing this right in the heart of the 86 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 2: AFL season, that was not going to happen. I mean, 87 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 2: when the Olympics happened in two thousand, the football finished 88 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 2: in a month earlier, they rearranged it. Now they're not 89 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 2: going to do that at this stage, so that that 90 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 2: was the problem. The stadium in Melbourne is much smaller, 91 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 2: but it will be absolutely rocking. You've got one massive 92 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 2: match coming up on July the thirty first year between 93 00:04:56,640 --> 00:05:00,360 Speaker 2: Australia and Canada, so that's going to be crucial because 94 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 2: hopefully at that phase that will be the battle for 95 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:05,599 Speaker 2: who finishes top of our group, and if the finished 96 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:07,360 Speaker 2: top in the group, there's a very good chance you're 97 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 2: going to avoid England in the round of sixteen. So 98 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 2: that match on July thirty one will really be a 99 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 2: big focus in Melbourne and I think that the whole 100 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 2: you know, the whole country will be watching that night. 101 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: Isn't it incredible? The thing that obviously, you know here 102 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 1: in Australia, everyone's going to be watching tonight the Matilda's 103 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:26,160 Speaker 1: chairing them all around the country, but also around the 104 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 1: world because obviously soccer is the biggest sport around the world. 105 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:31,120 Speaker 1: How many young girls are going to watch it in 106 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 1: various countries over the next sixty odd games that are 107 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 1: going to be maybe inspired where twenty or thirty years 108 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 1: ago they couldn't have been. We're going to inspire to 109 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: actually become the next big stars of women's soccer. 110 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 2: Now you're spot on. I mean, this is one of 111 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 2: the legacies that this World Cup will leave, will be 112 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 2: for that next generation. And we've heard in the last 113 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 2: you know, twenty four hours, forty eight hours about the 114 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 2: effect that Kathy Freeman had on this team and watching 115 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 2: somebody from another sports something that's monumental. And what I've 116 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:06,719 Speaker 2: loved about my little I guess foura into this sport 117 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 2: in the last months has been that the women that 118 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:14,040 Speaker 2: preceded this group are still alive, are still around this group. 119 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 2: So you know, the woman of Julie Dolan who had 120 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 2: the first cap in nineteen seventy eight, and you know 121 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 2: when Australia first played as an international team in those 122 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 2: late seventies. They're still around and they are still the 123 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 2: role models for this team and this team, and what 124 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 2: young women in this country and boys see not only 125 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:36,720 Speaker 2: from the Matiitas but from the other great players of 126 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:40,919 Speaker 2: the world will be the platform for the future for 127 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 2: them as well. So it is a really big, big 128 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 2: opportunity for football stroke soccer to absolutely explode in this 129 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 2: country because it's strong here, but it's got a lot 130 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:58,160 Speaker 2: of competition here with another couple of very very popular 131 00:06:58,520 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 2: football codes. 132 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 1: And do you think the materialdas can go far because 133 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 1: Albo has said obviously if they get into the finals 134 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:07,279 Speaker 1: then it's a public holiday. 135 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 2: That's something to look forward to. I do. They're one 136 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 2: of probably six or eight teams that can win the 137 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 2: World Cup and it wouldn't be a shock. It would 138 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 2: be a surprise, but not a shock. So the favorite 139 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 2: is probably the United States and then the next group 140 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 2: just behind them are England, Spain, Germany and they're right 141 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 2: at that shoulder. So need to get the job done tonight. 142 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 2: It would be catastrophic if we were to lose tonight, 143 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 2: it would be very difficult to pick up the pieces. 144 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 2: So tonight's crucial, But I think this team can certainly 145 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 2: make a deep run and once you get maybe to 146 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 2: a quarterfinal, anything can happen. So Christian, the last four 147 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 2: World Cups that we've been involved in, we've made a 148 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 2: quarterfinal on three occasions, and we've made the round of sixteen. 149 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 2: Surely with this team, with Sam Kurt and there's others 150 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 2: around her that are at the peak of their powers 151 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 2: in terms of the experience, in their age. With the 152 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 2: home Crown support, they'll never get a bit of chance. 153 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 2: So I think they'll have a deep Man. 154 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 1: You need to be in that locker room before kickoff 155 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 1: tonight to give them these rating words, just like Albercino. 156 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: You know, in any given Sunday, I love how Bruce 157 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:22,400 Speaker 1: you really are a master at what you do. You 158 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 1: are genuinely mean that. It's incredible to listen to you 159 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 1: just it just rolls out of you. It's part of 160 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: like your breathing, isn't it. All those stats, the way 161 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:32,199 Speaker 1: you say those phrases at the shoulder of them, that 162 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 1: even at seven point fifteen in the morning you can 163 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:37,560 Speaker 1: still do It's incredible. Do you miss doing so much commentary? Now? 164 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 1: Are you enjoying the different part of your life now. 165 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 2: I must tell you, Christian, I've got a cup of 166 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 2: coffee in my head at the moment. It's really helping me. Look, 167 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 2: I do it's very difficult to let go. It is. 168 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 2: And you know I'm not calling AFL and that does. 169 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:57,559 Speaker 2: Look it's not easy. I mean it happens to everybody. 170 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:00,560 Speaker 2: I mean, you're not there, Jack's not there. But you 171 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 2: know I'm seventy, so you know there is a stage 172 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 2: in your career where you have to cut back a bit. 173 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:09,839 Speaker 2: And I'm doing that and it's not easy to let go. 174 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:12,680 Speaker 2: Everyone wants to stay real of and everyone wants to 175 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:15,559 Speaker 2: feel that they can contribute, and I'm doing that and 176 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 2: so I'm still getting so much joy out of my work. 177 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 2: So I've been very very fortunate with seven in the 178 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 2: planning that they've done around me and the way that 179 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 2: we've looked towards the future. So yeah, last good. I'm 180 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 2: still getting a great buzz out of it. But I'm 181 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 2: not the bloke I was thirty years ago. 182 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:35,960 Speaker 1: And beat if I said, that makes it so happen. 183 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 1: Glad you just to enjoy it. You'll always be relevant. Seriously, 184 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:42,080 Speaker 1: you'll be the yardist that any future broadcaster is always 185 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 1: going to be held up against your real your master 186 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 1: what you do, and I'm looking forward to seeing and 187 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:48,679 Speaker 1: hearing you again tonight and over the next couple of 188 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 1: weeks with the Women's World Cup. 189 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 2: Bruce Green a pleasure, you guys all the very best. 190 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:55,319 Speaker 1: All right, well, catch up sir and Bruce. Enjoy the 191 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 1: Women's World Cup. Thanks for talking to us today. Thank 192 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:01,960 Speaker 1: you all right, so you can watch all the games 193 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:04,840 Speaker 1: for free. One costs you back on seven and seven