The most searched names in Australian life in 2023 were Matildas Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler. They topped the list of most searched Aussies this year, followed by former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke. Dan Andrews came in fifth, the first non-sporting figure on the top 10 list.
Kerr’s achievements for the Matildas and Chelsea, coupled with her World Cup injury, put her at the top of the list. Fowler also saw a surge in popularity due to her strong World Cup campaign and her reported friendship with NRL star Nathan Cleary. The Cricket World Cup in India was the most searched sporting event in 2023, followed by the 2023 Ashes series in the United Kingdom. The Big Bash League and the FIFA Women’s World Cup were also in the top ten most searched sporting events.
Boxing and wrestling events, as well as international men’s football, also featured in the top ten searches. Concerningly, the Rugby World Cup and Super Rugby Pacific barely made an appearance in the results. The AFL and AFLW also failed to crack the top ten, along with the A-League competitions. The numbers suggest a disconnect between the supposed big sporting codes of the nation and what Aussies are actually searching for.