by Ben Gilby (3/4/24)
Above: Michelle Heyman speaking from the Matildas camp in Florida. Image: Football Australia.
Heyman: Experience and age is a gift
Michelle Heyman is buzzing. That trademark smile is even wider than before. This is a 35-year-old striker at the top of her form and having the absolute time of her life in the process.
“It’s the best feeling. I feel so lucky, so privileged, and honoured to be a part of the squad. It’s so nice to be back in the environment doing the job I love,” the Canberra United attacker enthused.
A return to the national team after six years away saw Heyman bag five goals in the two-legged Olympic qualifier against Uzbekistan at the end of February. She reflected on just how crazy things have been in the five weeks since.
“My life’s changed a lot! I always knew that I could do this job and be back in this squad, so I just wanted to come out here and prove a point to other people and myself that I was still good enough to be here. My life now ever since Melbourne (and the second leg of the Uzbekistan game) has been a different world. The amount of support that I get from fans and the amount of people coming out to games to cheer on Canberra United, it’s just been wild.”
“To hear so many little kids scream out ‘Heyman! Heyman!’ it’s really sweet… I’m just happy, it’s just nice.”
Michelle Heyman on life since her Matildas return against Uzbekistan.
Heyman came back to a Matildas team unlike any other that came before it. Off the back of a sensational home World Cup where they captured the nation in a way that still sends shivers down the spine thinking back, this is a group idolised. It’s so different to the Canberra United star’s previous experiences with the squad.
“Everything about it has changed. I’ve never been in such a professional environment. I debuted (for the Matildas) in 2010 – to where we are today. I don’t think there are many things that are similar minus the players. It’s a whole lot of the same girls, which is just incredible, but everything on the outside from that squad has changed. To be treated so well, like a professional athlete to be able to be so successful in a training camp allows you to be the best you can be.
“I have more confidence in myself now because everyone believes in you. You have the full support from everyone within this squad. It just makes your life so much easier and it’s a joy to play for your country.
“I enjoy being able to support players, being able to be that bounce number nine who holds the ball up, and that quick movement off the ball really suits my style – but the amount of k’s that we’re doing in games is a lot higher than before. I remember the stats back in the day when I would run eight or nine k’s, now, every game I’m doing 10 to 11 – so it’s revved up…and made the quality of the football a lot more entertaining.
“I felt confident in myself, and that came with age. I knew what my role was as a player and I didn’t need to think too much about everyone else around me. It was just focusing on what I needed to do to get back into the squad…I had a good conversation with Tony (Gustavsson, head coach) so I knew what he wanted from me and that was my number one focus – that was to get into the box and score goals – and that I can do!”
Heyman is loving every second of her time back in the national squad, and playing better than ever as a direct result – something she also links to the benefits of age and experience. She wants to ensure that this opportunity is one that does not end any time soon.
“I want to enjoy every minute. You never know how long your career can go for…I want to experience this incredible environment – I want to be part of the Matildas again. My goal is the Olympics – I’m going to be pushing for that squad. I’m going to do everything I can to get into that team, but right now my main focus is for this camp.”
“I’m just so much smarter these days, it’s fantastic! Experience and age is a gift, and I look at my 25-year-old self, and I wish I knew everything then that I know now. I think it’s better than ever being older because I understand the game more.
“I’ve been around for a lot longer, and I’ve been able to watch these girls play for a number of years so I knew exactly what needed to be done for my role, so age is fantastic! I love getting older! I’m keeping up with the young ones, so it’s making me feel really good about myself!
“I knew I could score goals, but when I got that call back to The Matildas, it gave me that little bit extra because it was getting that approval from the national team to say that I’ve still got it.
Yallop: “Mexico are going to be very competitive”
Australia midfielder Tameka Yallop is expecting a tough and exciting encounter when the Matildas face Mexico next week.
Speaking from the team’s Florida training base, the Brisbane Roar star said: “I think it’s going to be an exciting match and a good test for us. It’s an excellent opportunity to see how we’re going with the style of play that we’re trying to implement and they are going to be competitive, they are a footballing country, they are very passionate about their football, so it’s going to be a very exciting and competitive match.”
Yallop comes into camp after a strong season back in the A-League Women where she has been used in a more attacking role for the Roar than she has been deployed in for a while.
“I’ve loved being back at home, back in Queensland. I think the time to come back to the A-League was definitely after the World Cup – there was just so much excitement and you can still feel it flowing in Australia. You also saw that with the competitiveness of the league this year.
“It’s exciting for me, it’s where I definitely feel I’m at my best and my most creative, which is what I definitely enjoy about football.”
Yallop is joined in the Matildas squad by her Brisbane Roar teammate Sharn Freir for the first time, and the midfielder revealed just how much Freir is revelling in her call-up.
“I don’t think I’ve seen her smile so much in her whole life! It’s really exciting to have her here and our whole Brisbane Roar team is just super excited as well. She’s got a lot of support coming in and it’s nice for her to have a familiar face in myself, but she does know other players, she’s been in A-League for a while and she’s fitting in well.
“She’s an exciting player. Her one-on-one skills are excellent and I think Australia will be pretty excited to see her play.
This international window sees Australia play one match rather than the usual two – a move that Yallop feels is a big plus as there is less need to focus on recovery and managing minutes. Instead, the team have more time to hone their style of play and prepare for the opposition.
“I think as a squad we can get a lot more out of training only having one game. We can have a lot more intense sessions and really focus on our game and how we want to play.
“It’s just about learning and understanding the style we want to playing; the different manipulations within that as well and different structures that we can move between and flow between and get used to playing that different style with different players in different positions and rotating, so I think it’s really a whole team inclusiveness and gelling.”
Matildas training photo gallery supplied to Impetus by Football Australia
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