- The Matilda star returned to Australia with Manchester City
- I met thousands of supporters in Perth during the week.
- Cleary was unable to join her as she rehabilitates her shoulder for the NRL finals.
Manchester City failed to claim the title, but Mary Fowler won many hearts on her return to Australia as part of the Perth International Football Cup.
She even poked fun at Australian rules football fans by donning a Perth Glory women’s A-League jersey at a local clinic.
But there was no sign of her boyfriend, NRL star Nathan Cleary, who was injured and spent the week rubbing shoulders with Olympic superstars Jess and Noemie Fox.
Matildas duo Fowler and Alanna Kennedy were on the losing side as Paris Saint-Germain claimed the Perth International Football Cup with a 1-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday night.
Locals flocked to see the former Perth Glory star and get autographs at an official meet and greet.
“I can’t believe I met Mary Fowler tonight. I’m so shocked,” one fan posted.
Cleary has regularly been seen in the stands at Matildas matches to watch his superstar girlfriend, but she was nowhere to be seen this time.
The Panthers scrum-half remained in Penrith to rehabilitate her injured shoulder with the aim of returning for the NRL finals, and in the process met Olympic gold medal winners and Penrith locals Jess and Naomie Fox.
Fowler spent a lot of time during the week meeting fans and taking selfies.
While Cleary was unable to be in Perth, she was able to meet Olympic gold medal winners the Fox sisters.
Fowler teased Perth A-League Women fans by donning a Perth Glory shirt
“They are proud Penrith girls and they were very kind to take the time to come and talk to our boys and share their experiences, not only from the most recent Olympics but also leading up to that,” Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said.
The duo managed to spend time together in Penrith ahead of the Perth International Cup, although they were spotted wandering around local markets in the Blue Mountains.
Fowler was given more freedom in the Cup final in Perth, alongside Kennedy.
But they were unable to secure victory before being substituted in the second half.
Fowler received a standing ovation every time he touched the ball, and his creativity had the PSG defenders on edge.
But he failed to break through PSG’s staunch defence and the French side did just enough to secure victory.
Fowler and teammate Matilda Allana Kennedy took time to sign autographs for supporters alongside their Manchester City teammates.
Fowler started the final match but was unable to find the winning goal for City.
Earlier, Matildas star Katrina Gorry was noticeably absent but Courtney Nevin was present for 30 minutes as Leicester City thrashed West Ham 5-2 in the third-fourth place play-off.
Leicester scored three goals in the first half and led 5-0 late before West Ham substitute Viviane Asseyi scored in the 90th and 96th minutes.
Gorry was not in the West Ham lineup after injuring an ankle in Thursday night’s 1-0 defeat to PSG.
But Nevin, who missed Leicester’s penalty shoot-out defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday night, came on in the 60th minute on Sunday with his side already leading West Ham 4-0.
“It was amazing to bring my teammates to Australia and have them experience my culture,” Nevin said after the match.
