Ellie Carpenter freely admits she has already achieved most of her goals.
The 18-year-old has already played in the Westfield W-League, is a regular for the Westfield Matildas and featured at the Olympic Games 2016.
The 2017/18 NAB Young Footballer of the Year has also played professionally in the United States, with the Portland Thorns, and regularly displayed why she is rated one of Australian football’s best young talents.
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But there is one box that remains unchecked on Carpenter’s bucket list: the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
With the showpiece event in women’s football less than a year away, Carpenter is determined to be part of Alen Stajcic’s squad.
And she knows just how important keeping her feet on the ground - and avoiding complacency - is in achieving that goal.
“Obviously it’s hard getting to the top [and playing for the Westfield Matildas] but I feel like it’s even harder staying there,” she said.
“You can’t be complacent at all and someone’s always there behind you, trying to take your spot.
“So you always have to be at 100 per cent, on and off the field, and give it your all every time you’re out there.
“Everyone who plays football watches the World Cup. I watched the girls in 2015 and it looked like an amazing experience.
“I’m just trying everything that I can do to be selected in that squad next year. Hopefully I’ll be there in France.”
Carpenter acknowledges that she did not expect to achieve so much so soon, which has required some tinkering of her aims and desires.
“This is my fourth season now. I’ve set out goals to achieve and I’ve achieved them very early,” she said.
“Now I have to, you know, go back and re-set even bigger goals.”
And she believes winning honours like the NAB Young Footballer of the Year give her the inspiration and drive to keep on improving.
“It was very nice to win the award… I thought I had a great year and it’s nice to be recognised for something you’ve done well,” she said.
“I feel it’s nice motivation to keep going and to be even better and bigger this season.”
