FORMER Wynnum Wolves junior and Matildas great Clare Polkinghorne has formally received her Medal of the Order of Australia, recognising a career that helped reshape women’s football in Australia.
Polkinghorne was presented with her OAM by Queensland Governor Dr Jeannette Young at Government House after being named in the 2025 Australia Day Honours.
Wynnum Wolves president Rabieh Krayem said the honour was an enormously proud moment for the club.
“To see a player who started here as a young girl go on to become Australia’s most-capped footballer is extraordinary,” he said.
“Clare has represented her country with class, determination and humility for almost two decades.
“She is proof to every young player at our club that big dreams can begin on a local field.
“Her legacy goes well beyond her achievements with the Matildas — she has helped inspire a new generation of girls to play football and believe there is a pathway for them in the game.
“On behalf of Wynnum Wolves, we congratulate Clare Polkinghorne OAM on a thoroughly deserved honour. She will always be part of the Wolves family.”
The Brisbane-born defender began her football journey at Wynnum Wolves before progressing through Capalaba Bulldogs, Queensland pathways and into a career that made her one of the nation’s most accomplished players.
Polkinghorne made her Matildas debut as a 17-year-old in 2006 and spent 18 years in the green and gold, finishing with 169 international appearances and 16 goals.
At the time of her international retirement in December 2024, she was Australia’s most-capped footballer, across both the men’s and women’s national teams.
She represented Australia at five FIFA Women’s World Cups and three Olympic Games and was part of the Matildas side that won the 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
A commanding central defender and respected leader, Polkinghorne captained Australia 28 times and was a key figure through the era in which the Matildas developed from a largely semi-professional program into one of the country’s most recognised sporting teams.
Her club career was equally distinguished.
Polkinghorne became a Brisbane Roar institution, playing her entire Australian top-flight career with the club and helping deliver three premierships and three championships.
She also played professionally overseas in Japan, the United States, Norway and Sweden, with stints including INAC Kobe Leonessa, Portland Thorns, Houston Dash, Avaldsnes, Vittsjö GIK and Kristianstads DFF.
Polkinghorne twice claimed the Julie Dolan Medal as the W-League’s player of the year, in 2012–13 and jointly with fellow Matildas star Sam Kerr in 2017–18.
Football Australia celebrated the formal presentation this week, describing “Clare Polkinghorne OAM” as a fitting honour for one of the game’s most enduring contributors.
For Wynnum Wolves, the recognition carries special local significance.
One of the club’s juniors went on to become a Matildas record-holder, World Cup and Olympic campaigner, and now an Order of Australia recipient.
