Matildas Defender Goes from Bench to Star in One Week

Sometimes the best career advice comes from a fictional soccer coach. For Matildas defender Kaitlyn Torpey, a single scene from Ted Lasso changed how she plays the game.

"Be a goldfish," the character tells his players, explaining that goldfish are the happiest animals because they only remember the last 10 seconds. For Torpey, that philosophy means letting mistakes go instantly and focusing on the next moment.

The 26-year-old missed the 2023 World Cup squad entirely and spent the first three games of the Asian Cup on the bench. But when vice-captain Steph Catley got concussed in the quarterfinal against North Korea, Torpey stepped into the left-back position and played so well that coaches kept her there even after Catley recovered.

"I tried every single session to prove myself and ended up earning my spot," Torpey told ABC Sport. The proof came when Catley returned for the semifinal but was moved to a different position just to keep Torpey in the lineup.

In that semifinal, Torpey's desperate lunge to get a toe on the ball set up Sam Kerr's match-winning goal. Torpey admits she doesn't even know how she made the full-field run alongside Kerr, remembering only that she felt like she couldn't stop.

After the semifinal win, which happened to fall on her birthday, Torpey sat on the pitch with teammates to soak it all in. "We have a chaotic life, especially in tournament football, so it's hard to remember everything in detail," she said.

Why This Inspires

Torpey's rise shows what happens when preparation meets opportunity. While sitting on the bench, she took detailed notes in team meetings and worked relentlessly in practice, earning her coach's description as "a great student of the game."

Her goldfish mentality helps her stay focused during high-pressure moments, but she's selective about when to use it. Some memories, like representing her country in a home tournament after watching the World Cup from the sidelines, are too precious to forget.

Before every game, Torpey listens to Temper Trap's "Sweet Disposition," with its hook "won't stop till it's over, won't stop to surrender." She started the ritual before earning her first cap, relating the song's message to her dream of playing for the Matildas.

Outside soccer, she explores photography and videography, creative outlets that keep her grounded. But her growth mindset means she's always analyzing her last performance and looking for ways to improve.

Tonight, the benchwarmer turned defensive star gets to prove herself on the biggest stage yet, showing that sometimes the shortest memory and the longest determination make the perfect combination.