Matilda Scholz says she’s excited to continue building something special at Port Adelaide after the star ruck committed her long-term future to the club.
Fresh off penning a three-year extension that will see her remain at Alberton until the end of the 2030 season, Scholz spoke to portadelaidefc.com.au about her connection to the club, her growth on and off the field, and her passion for inspiring the next generation of young girls and boys.
The 21-year-old also discussed her leadership aspirations, the season so far, why she sees her future in the black, white and teal, and her love for the off-field work she does through the club’s not-for-profit community programs.
Scholz on securing her future at Alberton long-term
“It’s so exciting. I love the club and everything we stand for and strive for. I think we're building some special things here, and obviously the girls are a big drawcard. The coaching staff, the admin staff, I just really enjoy everyone around here, especially the fans as well. I'm really stoked.”
Scholz on what drove her to commit her future, despite being contracted until the end of 2027
“I think I just wanted people to know I'm here to stay. I don't really want to be thought of as leaving Port Adelaide anytime soon. I just want the fans to know that I love the club, and I want the girls to know that as well.”
Scholz on what being a Port Adelaide player means to her
“The grit and the toughness. I like that our brand is like to play quite contested and tough footy, but I think if I go outside of that, it's about the family element as well. It sounds so cliche and cheesy, but I see the girls as my family, and we're all best friends, and I get along really well with the coaching staff. I think at the moment, I just feel like I'm in a good place at the club, and I'm enjoying my footy here.”
Scholz on how she’s grown and developed as a player, both on and off the field
“I’ve grown massively. Looking back at the photos of myself from my first game against the Crows at Norwood Oval, I think it was 2023... it doesn't seem like that long ago, but I look so completely different. I was a skinny little girl coming to play footy, and now, my thing is I want to play big girl footy. I want to be able to crash packs and take on tackles. Off field I've learned a lot about myself. Yeah, I think like sort of emotionally more consistent, which I talk about a lot, and it's still like, it's still something I need to work on. And I've obviously got things that I still want to work on outside of that emotional consistency. But definitely, that's something I've seen that's improved.”
Scholz on what she hopes to achieve over the next four years
“A premiership would be nice. And I don’t think that’s too crazy to say, we exist in premierships, so a premiership would be lovely here at Port Adelaide. But really, it’s just team success, that's what everyone's striving for.”
Scholz on playing home games at Alberton
“Oh, it's the absolute best. Coming off after a loss at Alberton Oval is not nearly as bad as coming off after a loss anywhere else, because of the fans. Obviously, they care when you win or lose, but they’re still there like yelling your name out, wanting signatures and photos, and so it's just like, it's a really nice warm feeling. It’s really cool that I'm able to inspire some young girls and boys. I love the fans at Alberton; they're the best in the league.”
Scholz on being an inspiration to young girls and boys
“I think the way the world is at this point in time, men are more often in positions of power, which is unfortunate, and hopefully will change. But I think as long as we can inspire young boys and they can see women in positions where men traditionally have been, then I think that's great, and they'll grow up seeing that women can be in this space and take up as much space as we need to take up or we want to take up.
“I think that my whole thing is it's amazing to be a role model for young girls. That's so important, and never will stop being important. But it's just as important being a role model to young boys as well, seeing that we can do the same stuff men do. And I sort of think about my little brother Ned. He's three years old, but for him, women's footy is just as big as men's footy, which I find so exciting, and I'm just really excited to see him grow up and not know there's a difference and just think like it's totally normal that we're here as well playing.”
Scholz on leadership ambitions
“I mean, if one came my way, I'm definitely not saying no to that. But I just want to take it step by step and focus on myself outside of footy by being, I guess, more approachable, probably more understanding. I think I can be a bit black and white in my thinking sometimes, which is obviously not a great thing as a leader that you need some sort of leniency. I think focusing on that stuff, working on myself outside, is something important that's going to make me a better leader. And if a leadership role comes my way and the playing group think that I'll be suited for that, then I'm obviously not going to say no to that when the time is right.”
Scholz on the season so far
“Yeah, I think it's actually been a really good start to the season. Obviously, the losses aren't good, but what we've learned out of losses is really positive. We've learned some great things from that, and I just think that we’ve changed our whole game plan. It's pretty different to what we've played in the past four years. So, having the first start to the season, playing some good games, playing some close losses, has actually been good for us. And I'm just really excited to see what we can achieve in the back half of this year, going into next year as well. I think that we'll see some hopefully some change in the scoreboard.”
Scholz on whether there was a drawcard to play at Carlton with sister Poppy
“I'd be, yeah, lying if I said I didn't think about it. Me and Poppy are like best friends, and I love hanging out with her, and love spending time with her. Maybe it's a good thing I'm staying because a little bit too much time with her gets on my nerves a bit. No offense, Poppy!
“I didn't really entertain the idea too much. It was just something that kind of came in and left again because I just love Port Adelaide and I love Alberton, love that my family's here, all my friends. I just don't see myself living in a different state. I love Adelaide.”
Scholz on her role in the club’s not-for-profit Power Community Limited
“I really enjoy the community programs. I go out to primary schools and talk about healthy lifestyles and how to live a healthy lifestyle and talk a bit about footy skills as well. And then I'm also just starting in the Empowered program, which is talking to senior girls about domestic violence, which I love talking about that stuff. Gender equality stuff is one of my favourite things to talk about.
“I really enjoy just seeing like the younger kids, and I think it's another opportunity for us as female athletes to make our mark in the space. We're going out to deliver programs about healthy lifestyles, which is important for the kids to learn. But I think we're also showing them that women can play footy.”
