Foord was named AFC Player of the Year this week after starring for the Matildas in the Olympics and an undefeated qualifying campaign this year.

Kerr has a close friendship with Foord, but their playing experience dates back to the 2011 World Cup with the Matildas and stints together at Sydney FC in 2013.

The pair also played in the NWSL together with Sky Blue FC last year and Kerr was not short of humour about Foord’s individual award.

“Cait’s one of my best mates, but I actually didn’t see it (the awards) I had a nightmare at 1am and woke up, checked my Twitter and saw she won,” Kerr joked.

“I gave her a message and congratulated her, I think she’s well deserving of the award and one of the best players in the world and probably the best in Australia.”

Foord was already dubbed as one of the best in the world earlier in the year by Matildas coach Alen Stajcic before the Olympics.

Kerr said her flexibility in playing a right-back and attacking role key to her success.

“Her versatility, she can play as a goalkeeper if you wanted her to, she’s that good,” she said.

“She’s one of the best players I played with if not the best, the best thing about her is you put her anywhere and she does the job, she marks the best players in the world in the game and beats them.

“She’s an unbelievable athlete, player and deserves everything she gets, been like that for a few years now.

“It’s hard for Australia getting that kind of accolade seeing as we’re not a footballing country, but I think she’s been the best for a long time.”

And with Perth taking on Foord’s Sydney FC next week in the W-League, Kerr said she was looking forward to clashing with her on the pitch.

Foord was originally ruled out with a foot injury this weekend, but is expected to play at Dorrien Gardens in Round Six.

“It will be good to have Cait back in Perth, I think it was time for her to head home, hopefully she’s back playing so we can have a bit of a battle down the right side,” she said.

“Sydney is a great team, we have them as a top four, so we need to take points off them.”