FFSA: Obviously, it must have been a huge honour to have been called up to the Matildas?

EC: It definitely was a huge honour. Being called up to a tour with the Matildas is something any young aspiring female footballer dreams about.
 Looking back over the past few years there was no thought in my mind that it would happen all so soon. 
 A couple of years ago this was just a dream, nothing more, my aim was to be there in the long term but obviously with it happening only in the short term made it even more exciting. 
 When an opportunity like this comes up you grab it and make the most of it because it’s not something everyone gets to go through and you never know how many times you will get the opportunity.

FFSA: And making your debut an even greater achievement?

EC: Again like being called up into the Matildas, making my debut was a dream that I never thought would happen this soon. Sitting in the team talk the night before the Hong Kong game and seeing my name go up on the screen as being in the starting XI was by far the most exciting moment. 
 I was hopeful that I would get some game time whilst away but I was not expecting to have a starting position no matter who the opposition were. Any debut is special but having a starting position made it even better. 

FFSA: How was the match against Hong Kong? How did you feel leading up to it?

EC: Leading up to the game I was extremely nervous. I had never had so many butterflies in my stomach before any game I had played. I felt like it was good to be nervous though and in the end once I was out on the pitch and got a few touches on the ball my nerves went and it was just like I was playing any other game. I knew what my role was so I was out there to perform as best as I possibly could. 

FFSA: How did you think you performed?

EC: I was really happy with how I played. It was a very different style of game in comparison to anything I have experienced before. 
 With Hong Kong playing a vast majority of their team in the back line and not one player up front, I was left with a lot more time on the ball than I was used to, but at the same time I still had the job of moving it around as quickly as possible so we didn’t let the standard of their game drop ours. 
 Due to the difference of the opposition’s play, I was also able to play a more attacking role from the centre of defence to try and draw players into the middle to open up spaces out wide. Even though Hong Kong weren’t a threatening team they were a great team to play for my first cap to slowly show me what it is like to play on the international stage. 

FFSA: How big a step up is the international stage from the W-League?

EC: It is a very big step up. It does take a while to begin with getting used to the level because it’s not something you can understand until you are amongst it seeing what it is like. 
 Within Australia there are incredible players that even during training sessions I look at and just think how amazing they really are. Although I am in the squad, there is so much I can learn from some of the more experienced players to ensure that I continue my development. 
 Nothing is ever easy on the international stage, there are many girls constantly fighting for the same position so it is really important that I don’t drop off now that I have one Cap, but instead I push myself harder to try and add more Caps next to my name. 

FFSA: What was one of the biggest challenges you faced while you were in camp?

EC: Being in a country such as China obviously the culture is very different to at home in Australia. I found it a big challenge to begin with at meal times getting the nutritional value from a meal that I would get when home. 
 With majority of meals being based around rice I had to be willing to experiment with different meals that I wasn’t normally used to having. 
 As the tour went on I adapted to the change in food and it wasn’t so bad but I definitely looked forward to a home cooked meal when arriving back in Australia.

FFSA: And one of the highlights of your experience.

EC: The biggest highlight of the experience was undoubtedly getting my first Cap, not only getting my first Cap but starting in the First XI as well. To me there is nothing more special than walking out with the team and singing the national anthem. Being able to do this was a memory that I will cherish forever and I hope that in the near future I am able to sing it proudly again.