‘It’s a problem’: Carpenter calls out online abuse but shrugs off her own

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“The bigger you get, the more criticism you get.”

Ellie Carpenter is authorised to speak on this subject. Mainly because her football career has got real big, real quick – she is 23, has been playing for global powerhouse Lyon for three years, and been the Matildas’ undisputed starting right-back for even longer.

But also because the peak of that career – playing in a World Cup semi-final in her home country – brought with it criticism which would more accurately be described as abhorrent social media trolling.

It happened in August, when Carpenter failed to clear a long ball that resulted in England’s second goal of the Lionesses’ 3-1 win. It was a mistake that left her visibly “heartbroken” after the match, but it did not warrant what former Socceroos captain Craig Foster described at the time as “vile, misogynistic garbage”.

The abuse forced her to limit replies on social media, which were also flooded with supportive messages from fans, friends and teammates, including captain Sam Kerr, who told media she was “mentally one of the toughest kids I’ve ever met in my life”.

Sometimes it is hard for an outsider to know how much this “outside noise” – as many sports people, including Carpenter, call it – affects the individual at its centre. For some, it can devastate mental health and on-field performance. If that is the case with Carpenter, you wouldn’t know it.

Ellie Carpenter having a laugh with Matildas teammates two days after their World Cup semi-final loss to England.Credit: Getty

Two months after the World Cup, she has been back in the thick of it with Lyon, who are once more top of France’s Division 1 Feminine table, and is now back in Australia answering questions about online abuse she would probably rather not be answering.

“To be honest, I don’t really read or look into that,” she says in Perth, where the Matildas are preparing to play three Olympic qualifiers.

“It doesn’t really affect me at all, because I do a job for my team and myself. I don’t really listen to outside noise. I had a great support system around me during that time, and just during the whole World Cup really.

“It [online abuse] is everywhere these days, and that just shows that the bigger you are, or the bigger you get, the more criticism you get. That comes with being a professional athlete as well.

Lauren Hemp gets past Ellie Carpenter (right) before scoring England’s second goal in the World Cup semi-final.Credit: Reuters

“You see it everywhere in different leagues, different sport codes. So obviously it’s a problem, and I know a lot of people are trying to make apps and platforms to try and stop abuse and things like that, so that’s good that people are aware of it and are trying to change it.”

Carpenter is an old, independent soul for her 23 years. When she contested the World Cup, she did so after recovering from an ACL rupture, in another country, and opting for little personal support except from her partner and teammate, Dutch international Daniëlle van de Donk.

“You have to grow up very quickly,” she says. “I moved out of home when I was 15 and was living by myself, so you grow up automatically.

“Especially in the football world, you need to be mature. And I guess I’ve experienced a lot of things on and off the field in my football career, and it only makes you stronger and bigger and better.

Carpenter trains with the early Matildas arrivals in Perth.Credit: Getty

“I didn’t really get much downtime [after the World Cup]. You just kind of go straight into a new season, so you don’t really have time to reflect or stop for a second.

“But it’s been incredible to see the aftermath of the World Cup and what we’ve done in football and Australia, and for women as well. I can definitely be proud of that.”

Carpenter is allowing herself to enjoy her time in Perth. She was released early by her club and arrived over the weekend, so enjoyed a couple of extra days to recover from jet lag.

Most of the rest of the squad landed on Tuesday, and overnight into the early hours of Wednesday. And most of the rest of the squad are, it seems, the supporting cast to the main actor.

Kerr arrived in her hometown in the early hours of Tuesday from London, fresh off creating two assists to help Chelsea back to joint top of the English Women’s Super League.

The ungodly time did not stop news reporters door-stopping the 30-year-old with cameras and microphones as she and West Ham captain Mackenzie Arnold left Perth Airport after travelling together from Heathrow.

“How are you going to cope with the travel aspect, Sam?” a Network 10 reporter asked in the darkness.

“We’re used to it, mate,” Kerr responded, before signing autographs and taking photos with young fans.

Kerr and Arnold joined fellow new arrivals Mary Fowler, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Hunt, Courtney Nevin, Teagan Micah and Lydia Williams in a light session at the WA State Football Centre. But despite the presence of several other big names, Kerr was the centre of attention before and after the closed session.

Matildas captain Sam Kerr arrives at training in Perth on Tuesday.Credit: Nine

“Sam, did you manage to get some shut-eye?” a Nine Network reporter asked as she boarded the bus to training.

“Yeah, mate,” she answered, amid laughter from teammates.

She was followed by cameras once more off the bus at the training facility, despite it being a fully closed session, and afterwards managed to divert an entire media pack already set up and waiting to interview Carpenter. Carpenter, like Emily van Egmond the day before, was asked about Kerr.

“I think she’s excited,” Carpenter said. “Obviously, it’s been such a long time since we’ve played here, and for her playing in front of family and friends. I think everyone’s excited.”

On Wednesday, the whole group will be together for a familiarisation session at HBF Park before Thursday’s opening match against Iran, whom the Matildas have never played. They will then face the Philippines at Optus Stadium on Sunday and Taiwan back at HBF Park next Wednesday, in the knowledge they must top their group to be guaranteed passage to February’s third and final phase of Paris 2024 qualifying.

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