By Genevieve Henry (17/12/24).
Above: Michelle Heyman (2) celebrates after scoring against Uzbekistan earlier this year. Photo: Tilly McDonald for Impetus.
With two of the A-League Women’s best centre-forwards in the Matildas squad at the same time, Emily Gielnik and Michelle Heyman both give the future Matildas head coach different qualities to look at. Impetus’ Genevieve Henry looks at their differences, strengths, and weaknesses, and how they can be best utilised.
A promising sign for the Matildas is that both managed to find the back of the net against Taiwan. While Heyman has scored more recently for the Matildas, Gielnik was clearly battling with the mental aspect of scoring and getting one in could have made all the difference.
The Melbourne Victory player especially, is a confidence player and the impact of her first goal since 2021 cannot be understated. If both can continue to perform, there is no reason why they shouldn’t both be included in the squad for the SheBelieves Cup in February.
Gielnik, who is 32, has just under 60 caps for the national team with 12 goals to her name. She has played all over the world, with some very impressive clubs to her name. She has played in Sweden, England, Germany, and of course, Australia; even playing for famous clubs Liverpool and Bayern Munich in her career.
Heyman is four years older, with around 75 caps and 28 goals. She has spent most of her career thriving in Australia, but has also had stints in Denmark and the USA. This is to say, both are vastly experienced but likely only a solution for the next year or two (though no one could bet against Heyman playing until she’s 40).
Gielnik and Heyman have excellent qualities for a number nine, both excelling at hold-up play and physicality. Towering over most players at 1.83m and 1.80m respectively, both are aerial threats. This suits the Matildas style of play exceptionally well, as they have become accustomed to serving crosses to Sam Kerr’s noggin over the years.
Most of Heyman’s goals are simple finishes compared to Gielnik’s goals. She has a sixth sense of where to receive a pass or a cross, and she almost always manages to convert. She is a menace in the box and a danger to defences if she has the service. Gielnik’s goals can come from anywhere on the pitch, but she is also less reliable when it comes to the easy ones. Gielnik described her playing still in the pre-match presser against Taiwan last week.
“I’m an old school nine. I’ll stick to my strengths. I know I’m a different kind of player to Sam and some other forwards that we have. It’s all about just recognising that and just staying in my lane. I’m hungry. I’m determined. For right now, I do see myself as a nine… (but) I’m quite versatile. I feel like I can play out wide still. But for right now, being in the nine has rewarded me. I’ve been scoring goals and doing well for my team.”
Heyman is the perfect player for breaking down a low block against teams the Matildas would likely play in the Asian Cup or qualifiers, but she tends to struggle against stronger opponents. Against Brazil, she failed to make an impact against their smothering defending. But, she is invaluable when breaking down teams who park the bus.
Gielnik, on the other hand, has proven to be able to handle typically stronger opponents. With goals against teams like Germany and USA as her most recent contributions to the Matildas, Gielnik tends to operate well when forced to create something out of nothing. As an impact substitute against Brazil, she offered more dangerous play than Heyman had.
Against Taiwan, she had many good chances, which is promising, but she also didn’t put them away, signifying that she may rely on pressure to perform.
Heyman is a target player while Gielnik makes herself more involved in the build-up. She has found the back of the net at a slower rate already this season in the A-League Women than last season, and it seems to be due to the lack of service from teammates. Heyman was spoiled with Nikki Flannery’s assistance last season, but only time will tell if she can hit form by herself or by forming connections with another player from Canberra.
She is also not the sole source of goals, with the acquisition of Maja Markovski relieving some of the pressure on Heyman. At the international level, she is luckily surrounded by players who can certainly provide great service consistently.
Ultimately, most Matildas fans will hope this isn’t an issue that needs to be solved for much longer, but with Kerr expected to be out until February or March, it’s likely that the SheBelieves Cup will require a solution at the nine. Gielnik spoke about this in the pre-Taiwan match presser, as well.
“Sam is Sam. I’ve always tried to never compare myself to (other) players. Since Sam’s been out, I find myself naturally gravitating towards a nine. I saw an opportunity there. At some stage she will come back in, but for me, it’s all about being in good goal scoring form, playing well, and assisting, whatever that looks like, to help the team win.”
We also saw Gielnik and Heyman on the field at the same time against Taiwan, for the first time in their careers. This tactic did not seem to be one that the Matildas will carry into the future, as it did not produce the desired results. Although there were a few great passes from one to the other, it never ended in a goal, both Gielnik and Heyman missing golden opportunities.
Gielnik and Heyman are both incredible players. In a short-term sense, they could help the Matildas greatly when played to their strengths.
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