For Warrant Officer Grant Metcalfe, watching his son Connor step onto the world stage for the Socceroos is the result of years of resilience, sacrifice and family support shaped by Navy life.
Speaking from Seattle ahead of Australia’s clash with the United States, Warrant Officer Metcalfe described the experience as “absolutely spectacular”.
“It’s difficult to describe,” he said.
“I’m just so full of pride for him, having achieved what was his dream. As parents, we’ve been on that journey from when he was a junior footballer right through to where he is now and we’ve just supported him the whole way.”
Mr Metcalfe’s rise to the Socceroos and the Bundesliga may appear seamless, but his father said the reality has been far more challenging.
“It’s up and down – it hasn’t been all smooth sailing,” Warrant Officer Metcalfe said.
“There have been challenges along the way, and how he manages those is critical.”
For the Metcalfe family, perspective has been key.
“Our role is to be there when it’s not going so great, to take the pressure off and remind him there’s more to life than football,” Warrant Officer Metcalfe said.
“He’s a son, a brother, a cousin – that matters. Football isn’t the only aspect of your life.”
‘When he scored, it was mind-blowing. I saw him driving forward and thought he might take the shot. When it went in, the whole place just exploded.’
Warrant Officer Metcalfe sees a direct link between Navy values and his son’s approach to elite sport.
“Teamwork and, more importantly, resilience. You won’t have success in every situation, it’s how you respond to that,” he said.
He points to Mr Metcalfe’s recent setback in Germany as a defining moment.
“He helped his club achieve promotion to the Bundesliga, and then had an injury that ruled him out for four months,” Warrant Officer Metcalfe said.
“He was very disappointed and felt his opportunity slipping away.”
But patience and perspective paid off.
“We said, ‘It’s a long journey – it’s not over yet’,” Warrant Officer Metcalfe said.
Mr Metcalfe then returned to the game at the World Cup, where he started against Türkiye and scored a goal. It was a moment Warrant Officer Metcalfe will never forget.
“The stadium was incredible – 70,000 people, the noise, the atmosphere,” he said.
“You could feel what we were up against straight away.”
‘Teamwork and, more importantly, resilience. You won’t have success in every situation, it’s how you respond to that.’
Watching as a parent brought its own pressure.
“You’re always nervous, you just hope he goes well and doesn’t get injured,” Warrant Officer Metcalfe said.
“But when he scored, it was mind-blowing. I saw him driving forward and thought he might take the shot. When it went in, the whole place just exploded.
“I was in heaven – it epitomised everything he’s been through.”
The achievement also reflects the sacrifices common to many Defence families.
“We’ve all experienced separation – months, sometimes years apart,” Warrant Officer Metcalfe said.
“There were times I was posted away while the family stayed in Newcastle.”
He credits his wife for managing the demands of raising a young elite athlete.
“She absolutely carried everything – training, school, travel. It was like a full-time operation,” Warrant Officer Metcalfe said.
Back home, support from Navy mates and the community has been overwhelming.
“I’ve had so many messages from people from way back. It’s really special,” he said.
For Warrant Officer Metcalfe, the Socceroos represent something bigger than the game itself.
“They unite the nation,” he said.
“And to be part of that, even as a parent, is just incredible.”
