Self-responsibility is a phrase that is used frequently over the course of the weekend. Sermanni’s explanation of its application to the Matildas is simple: “When your football team walks out onto the field, you don’t have any control over them. And I think when you take control away from people away from the field, when you suddenly say ‘on the field, go and express yourself’, how can they?

“That may be a flawed philosophy, I don’t know, but it makes logical sense to me that you need to give people responsibility.”

“The men are constantly monitored by their club teams,” says Barbieri. “But no one’s calling us up or fining us $1000 for not turning up to training. So it’s really up to us.”

She adds that this responsibility extends to properly reporting any injuries players may want to conceal. “Physios in the Socceroos team will hear about it on the news. They’ve got more ways of finding out if you’ve been hurt.

“National Nine News – Lisa’s pulled a hammy!” interrupts midfielder Sally Shipard.

“Sally Shipard’s banged her toe!” fires back Barbieri.

At just 19, Shipard has already seen her fair share of injuries. After captaining the Young Matildas at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Championship in Russia last year, she spent 11 months on the sideline with stress fractures in her foot. Even now her legs are covered in icepacks as soon as she comes off the pitch.

While the Matildas boast experienced stars such as Cheryl Salisbury, Joanne Peters and Dianne Alagich, it is encouraging for women’s football that the next generation is already emerging. Along with the skilled Collette McCallum, fullback Clare Polkinghorne and back-up keeper Lydia Williams, Shipard represents a group of teenagers who are not just part of the squad but are either settled in or pushing for selection in the starting XI.

“This is the first camp since the squad has been announced, so it’s 21 players all vying for those 11 starting positions,” says Shipard, bringing the serious side of the camp back to the fore. “Every game until the World Cup will be important for everyone to prove they’re capable of being in the starting team.”

A physical presence in centre of the park despite her age, Shipard is a born competitor with superior ball skills. But it is her character – friendly and cheerful, articulate and thoughtful – that really sets her apart as a future Matilda captain.

Indeed, while most 19-year-olds are testing out their Proof of Age cards at their local drinking holes, Shipard is already more concerned about being a role model for budding footballers.

“We’re fairly responsible when it comes to alcohol, aren’t we Bubs?” Shipard asks Barbieri. “I suppose we wouldn’t get as much media attention as the men would anyway. We know when it’s time to let our hair down and we know when it’s time to act responsibly because we’re role models to younger girls.

“We like being in that situation – it’s nice to have younger boys and girls look up to you and be asking you questions about how you made it.”

Fast forward 24 hours and in the light of these comments it’s hardly surprising to see the Matildas sticking around for over an hour after the game against Chinese Taipei to sign autographs and pose for photos for hundreds of adoring kids. This, despite the exhausting 90 minutes on a unseasonably warm Coffs Harbour afternoon.

Sprinkled among the crowd are several younger brothers and sisters of the squad members, who have made the trip to Coffs to see the team before it heads overseas.

Indeed, while chatting with Sermanni before the game, left winger Jo Burgess’s mum comes over to introduce herself to the coach, having driven down from Caloundra with several family members. Soon after Kate McShea’s parents give Sermanni a wave.

Fortunately for the families – and perhaps for Sermanni too – both girls are in the starting XI on the day. He points out several more family members in the crowd, explaining that interacting with parents is an important part of his role.

“A lot of people go into coaching not quite knowing what their job is,” he says. “I think they go in there with the perception that it’s just about running a football team, and training a football team. But it’s not really. It’s much more of a management job.

“The coach is the person that actually interacts with ever aspect of the organisation, straight from the top with the chief executive, right down to the media, parents, partners and everybody else. I quite enjoy mixing and bringing things together and trying to build an organisation.”

Shipard is the recipient of a surprise visit from her family. “I spoke to Dad on Saturday morning and I asked him where he was and he said, ‘Just driving to Coffs Harbour.’ He’ll be driving up from Canberra with my little brother – it’s good to get that family support,” she beams. “Mum came over to Russia last year and Dad and my little brother came over to Thailand the year before.

“Bubs’s husband and her mother came up for the North Korean game. It’s nice when they do that – they could just be sitting at home watching it on TV but I don’t think they know just how much it means when they’re actually there live.”

Of course, China is a little more than a drive up the Pacific Highway and it will not be possible for many of the Matildas’ families to make the journey.

“My husband’s got a wedding in London,” jokes Barbieri. “His sister’s getting married so I’ll forgive him. His only sister...”

Fortunately the Matildas have an even bigger family to offer them support... each other.

“Off the pitch we’re like a big family, which was not the case before,” says Barbieri, a veteran of the pre-Sermanni days. “I didn’t feel that camaraderie. I’d just sit in my room and do my own thing.”

“She was very dark. She was a bitch,” jokes Shipard, prompting protests from Barbieri: “No! But I didn’t feel the friendship that I do now – that I can go and talk to anybody in the team. There is no-one in this team that

I can’t go to and have fun with.”

“No, people go to her to have fun with,” corrects Shipard, before adding, “It was always very strict and there was always something negative pulling the team down. That’s what I first noticed when I came into the team.”

That negativity is a thing of the past now, claims Barbieri. “We love each other to bits. A friend of mind went through something really bad in her life recently, and I just thought the one place I would want to be is here with these girls. And for me to think like that… I just love these girls to bits. I love my husband and all but…”

“He gets jealous because he knows how much fun I have with the girls,” she laughs. “For once he actually came and watched us against North Korea. He came and saw what we do, and spent the night here chatting away – he loved it as much as I did so I’m sure he understands it now.”

One thing her husband finds difficult to grasp though is the just how much it hurt to miss out on qualifying for next year’s Olympic Games – the biggest stage of all for women’s sport. “He’s got passion, but I just don’t think he knows that we feel it in our bodies. He said “Don’t worry, there’s 2012” but you can’t just sweep it under the carpet.”

It is fortunate that September’s World Cup has quickly given the Matildas something to focus on in the wake of such a disappointment, but there will be a big hole in the girls’ calendars come 2008.

“Next year’s going to suck,” says Shipard, “but at least we’ve got the World Cup to look forward to, so we can worry about next year when it comes around.

“I’ve chatted to some of the girls and I think a couple of them have the idea of travelling overseas and playing in Europe or America. I don’t know what Bubs has got in mind but that’s definitely what I’ve got in mind… and hopefully a full-time year of uni as well.

“A lot will come down to how we perform at the World Cup, both as a team and as individuals. I think if people know that we want to be heading overseas, it’s up to them to approach us. We’ve got a few connections through Tommy and some of the older girls have played overseas before. So there’s definitely avenues for us.

It’s a plan that Barbieri too is keen to follow: “I want to go overseas – I wouldn’t mind playing in Germany. I play for Richmond in the men’s league and they’re a German club. I’d play anywhere.”

Shipard agrees: “Anywhere overseas, semi-professionally, professionally… whichever.”