Sydney FC W-League captain Teresa Polias, has won a Grand Final, been at a World Cup and played at an Asian Cup. During her decade long career, the 10 capped Matilda has recorded the second most appearances in the W-League. She tells us in her own words what playing football means to her.
Looking back over the last ten years of my career what I remember the most are the derbies and the grand finals. I have been lucky enough to be a part of three grand-finals and I am happy to have won one. It’s the big games that area really huge for me.
The season Sydney FC won the Grand Final in 2012-13 was a bit of roller coaster. That year we had a really young team like really young. We had players like Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord we had incredible young players and when you have a young team there are inconsistencies so we had an inconsistent season, so it all came down to the last few rounds and one of those games was against the Wanderers and we had to win that game and we scraped into the semi’s in fourth place and we hit our straps.
I’ve been lucky enough to play with some great players at Sydney. I pinch myself sometimes, they are incredible players and legends to me and they are good people as well. Every season that has gone we’ve had a great squad and there is no reason why we shouldn’t be up there again this campaign.
Being Captain

Obviously I love being the leader of this team, I love this club it’s a huge part of my heart. Sydney FC is my home club and I’ve followed it from its beginning so it’s really special to lead the team.
I’m not the most outspoken leader. I try and lead the team by example. I am lucky enough to have incredible players around me that help me help to lead. We are a team of leaders. I represent the arm band out but I also represent all of us.
Playing for the Matildas
My Matildas debut is a funny one. In 2007 I was in the Young Matildas team and we were sent over to Asia to play a senior Olympic qualifier. The Matilda’s were out of contention at that time so the Young Matildas were preparing for their own World Cup qualifiers, so they sent us instead.
Related Articles

'Timing not right': Montemurro's verdict on Matildas vacancy

Tilio eyes A-League return in bid to escape Celtic rut
