She's grown up in green in gold, Caitlin Foord.
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The baby-faced teenage star of the future has turned into one of the Matildas greatest assets, playing at her third World Cup.
Shellharbour's own. Illawarra's own.
At 24, her time has arrived.
Having evolved from a young defender to key attacking weapon, Foord can provide the perfect alternative to goal if their World Cup rivals - starting with Italy when their tournament kicks off in France on Sunday night - pour their attention into shutting down international superstar Sam Kerr.
"Caitlin Foord could be a standout for Australia," former Matildas captain Kate Gill said.
"She looked good against America as a No.10 and that allows her freedom of movement between her and Sam.
"She's dangerous, and she runs at players. If she has a massive tournament, and she stays injury free, then she should be the game changer."
In a sign of Foord's maturity as a player, she has put behind the drama around Alen Stajcic's shock sacking and the pain of past Olympic and World Cup heartbreak, declaring the Matildas are ready to win.
"We 100 per cent think we can win," Foord said on The Women's Game.
"Last World Cup we went thinking we could win, as well but I've said a couple of times now that going into Canada, we knew we could, but I think the belief was missing within the team.
"Four years round, we think we can win, and the belief is there that we can win.
"We just know if we are playing at our best as individuals and as a team, we can beat anyone."
The Matildas suffered a pre-tournament setback, as Laura Alleway was ruled out of the World Cup and former Illawarra schoolgirl Mary Fowler went down in training.
Alleway has battled a foot injury behind the scenes, and was ruled out of the tournament by coach Ante Milicic. Uncapped 18-year-old Karly Roestbakken has been called up her place.
Fowler's injury, early in the Matildas' first training session in France, sent a shockwave through the camp.
The 16-year-old was given treatment for a hamstring issue on the pitch.
Coach Milicic, who missed Fowler being taken off, said he turned around and "saw her on the side with an ice pack".
"Apparently it's just precaution.
"She felt something on the hamstring. I'm not going to risk a 16 year old kid," he said.
with AAP
Watching a star grow before our eyes
One of the vital roles we play is to give recognition to those in our region who deserve it.
On Friday in the newsroom discussion turned to the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, an international sporting event of epic proportions.
We thought it fitting to come up with a front page to recognise the Illawarra's very own Matilda Caitlin Foord ahead of Sunday night's opening game against Italy.
As a region we've watched Caitlin grow up from a baby-faced kid running the sporting fields of Shellharbour to a genuine international superstar of the world game shining on grounds around the globe.
Caitlin is just 24, yet this will be her third World Cup.
Mercury sports editor Tim Barrow identified the image of a young Caitlin taken in 2006 and we came up with the concept of having a young Caitlin and a present day Caitlin with the headline 'Growing Up Green and Gold'.
Our Australian Community Media designer Aaron Stewart pulled the idea together and created the front page which was shared right across the country and indeed the world.
Later today we'll have a message wall up where you can leave a message of support for Caitlin and we're hoping Caitlin's mum Simone will hand deliver those to Caitlin later this week.
And tomorrow we celebrate a host of local heroes.
As part of the Queen's Birthday Honours List we'll reveal who from the Illawarra has been recognised.
We can't tell you yet, other than to say it's a big list!