Kristy's Journalism Portfolio

Socceroos players were driven to exhaustion as they held on for a dogged victory against Tunisia, with indefatigable midfielder Aaron Mooy running for an incredible 11.99km - but how does that stack up compared to other footy codes?

One of the English Premier League's greatest and most popular players has lavished the Matildas with praise after their 4-0 win over Canada - even managing to hug skipper Steph Catley. Australia had to beat the reigning Olympic champions in order to progress to the knockout stages at their home World Cup; and they did so in style thanks to goals from Hayley Raso (2), Mary Fowler and Catley, who expertly converted her second penalty for the tournament.

Matildas player ratings: See which Aussie stars struggled and who held their own in shock World Cup defeat to Nigeria • None Matildas must beat Canada on Monday to qualify for the Round of 16 Australia's hopes of World Cup glory were dealt a potentially fatal blow on Thursday night as Nigeria secured a shock 3-2 win in Brisbane.

Wallabies legend Drew Mitchell has pinpointed the two biggest unanswered questions for Australia ahead of the World Cup as Eddie Jones maintains the side can still win the tournament.

As the Matildas announce their squad for the World Cup, the country's first-ever skipper has revealed they had to resort to gambling fundraisers and baking lamingtons to play for Australia. Julie Dolan is the Matildas' cap no. 1 after skippering the side in their first-ever game, which was against New Zealand in 1979 - and she is also a Legacy '23 ambassador for the World Cup, which begins in front of a sold-out crowd against Ireland on July 20. So while Sam Kerr, Ellie Carpenter and co. will now play in front of 83,000 fans, sitting in brand-new, multimillion-dollar, gender-neutral change rooms and earning the same money as the Socceroos, it has taken a long and at times painful journey to get to this point.

She's won a Melbourne Cup, been the subject of a movie and ridden over 750 winners, but Aussie jockey Michelle Payne's new career highlight might just be joining the broadcast team for the Royal Ascot carnival. The 37-year-old became the first (and currently still only) woman to win a Melbourne Cup when she stunned the racing world by winning the world's most famous turf races on 100-1 shot, Prince of Penzance. She famously called horse racing a 'chauvinistic sport' after her historic win, saying: 'I want to say to everyone else, get stuffed, because they think women aren’t strong enough but we just beat the world'. And she's only gone from strength to strength since.

Matildas prodigy Mary Fowler revealed why her move to football giants Manchester City has her primed to shine on the grandest stage of all in next month's World Cup in Australia. The Aussie superstar spoke to Daily Mail Australia about the heartbreaking sacrifices she had to make to chase her football dreams, but she is now reaping the rewards and will be picked to go to her second World Cup, aged just 20. Now Fowler has revealed how her move to UK giant Manchester City, and fighting for regular minutes, has set her up perfectly ahead of next month's huge tournament.

Matildas star Mary Fowler has revealed the heartbreaking sacrifices she has had to make in order to become one of the hottest properties in world football - saying she's only seen her siblings grow up over video calls. The 20-year-old wunderkind now plies her trade in the WSL for English giants Manchester City, and will be a vital part of Australia's attacking rotation at the home World Cup, which begins in just over a month's time. Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia as her documentary series Mary on 7Plus prepared to air, Fowler revealed the heartbreaking sacrifices she has had to make on her way to becoming one of the hottest properties in female football.

The Demons and Magpies are set to face off in a blockbuster King's Birthday clash, as money is raised for motor neurone disorder with Neale Daniher's Big Freeze slide. Follow Daily Mail Australia's live blog for all the action from the MCG.

Former top jockey Libby Hopwood has mourned people being 'eaten up' by the relentless 'racing machine' in the wake of her fellow rider and close friend Dean Holland's tragic death last month.

EXCLUSIVE: FIFA boss reveals the crucial reason why Matildas can win a home World Cup - and how 'phenomenal' Sam Kerr can create her own Cathy Freeman moment and inspire a generation The Matildas have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to win a home Women's World Cup - and one of FIFA's top officials is backing them to go all the way and complete the fairytale.

Football can, quite seriously, be a matter of life and death: just ask FIFA's Secretary General, who said the only time child soldiers in war-torn African countries were allowed to lay down their guns was when the sport was on. Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura is the organisation's second-highest ranked individual behind president Gianni Infantino, and Forbes has previously labelled her the most powerful woman in world sport. The 60-year-old Senegalese was the first woman to be appointed to the prestigious position, and also the first non-European. She spoke to Daily Mail Australia while she is Down Under preparing for the Women's World Cup and explained the incredible power football can wield.

Recently retired Geelong premiership hero Joel Selwood says he has a 'new footy locker room' for one very heartwarming reason. The four-time premiership player got the fairytale ending so many wished for when the Cats won the 2022 flag, and is now moving on with the next stage of his life in a way that doesn't involve Aussie Rules footy. Selwood told Daily Mail Australia life has not slowed down in the slightest since he finished his storied 355-game career, which included almost every team and individual honour in the sport.

Socceroos hero Mathew Leckie's match-winning goal against Denmark was just the latest in his rollercoaster football ride and one man in particular was a huge part of that journey: Ange Postecoglou.

The Socceroos have always had a reputation for playing physical, relentless football - but new details have revealed just how hard they had to work to save their World Cup in the 1-0 win against Tunisia. Australia has often lacked the polish and world-class skills that other sides display on the game's biggest stage - and Qatar is no exception. That doesn't mean they can't make it incredibly hard on their opponents, however, as Tunisia will attest. After Mitchell Duke's wonder header gave Aus

Matildas star Chloe Logarzo is proudly gay - and she won't let the haters force her into hiding who she really is. The 27-year-old forward, who has represented Australia more than 50 times at senior level and played in top leagues all over the world, is used to vile comments both online and in person. And that's exactly why it's so important one of the country's top female footballers is refusing to hide the way she attacks life with joy alongside fiancee McKenzie Berryhill, with whom she played with in the US National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

When AFLW premiership winner Heather Anderson died unexpectedly aged just 28 on Monday, it sent the entire footy and defence force world into shock and grief that the much-loved figure was taken so young. Affectionately known as 'Heads', the former Adelaide Crow and Bulldogs representative was one of the fittest female players to ever play the game, and an immensely popular teammate, opponent and friend. Tragically, it is believed the long-time Army medic took her own life at the barracks she was stationed at in Perth, according to veterans community Facebook page The Pineapple Express, which has more than 70,000 followers and supports former and current Defence Force personnel who are struggling. Though Anderson played just one AFLW season - albeit a hugely successful one - due to a horrific run of injuries, the Crows premiership defender touched the lives of everyone she came in contact with during an inspiring footy career. That's evident by the scale of the emotional response to her tragic death from former teammates, opponents, AFLW fans and defence force personnel.

How football is set to snare the next generation of Aussie girls away from the AFL and NRL - FIFA women's boss says hosting the World Cup will create a 'whole new generation of Sam Kerrs'.

Bernard Foley admits he thought his Wallabies career was over prior to this year's surprise recall at the age of 33, and now the half-back is eyeing off a spot at next year's World Cup. Talking to the Daily Mail Australia, Foley was beaming with pride when talking about his recall after last appearing for the Wallabies at the 2019 World Cup in Japan. The Japan-based 33-year-old thought he had already pulled on the green and gold for the last time. But a combination of injuries and selectors s

AFL Grand Final AS IT HAPPENED: Almost faultless Geelong win the premiership with a ruthless 81-point demolition of a sorry Sydney side as Patrick Dangerfield says 'It was worth the wait!' • The Geelong Cats are taking on the Sydney Swans in the 2022 AFL Grand Final • Keep updated by following Daily Mail Australia's live blog for the big game Today's the day! The Geelong Cats are set to take on the Sydney Swans at the MCG to decide who will win the 2022 AFL Premiership. The Cats have not lost