by Genevieve Henry (19/2/25)
Above: Winonah Heatley taking part in training with the national team. Photo: Football Australia.
Matildas defender Winonah Heatley is one of the most exciting new faces in recent times. Heatley spoke to the press about her confidence going into the SheBelieves Cup, her role in the squad, and her thriving club career.
Heatley is still taking it easy and patiently putting the work in, saying, “I’ve been looking to try and establish my role in the squad for the last (few years), and this is just another opportunity to do so. I’m not going to put any pressure on myself for any sort of outcome personally within this window.”
The defender may have been around for a while, but she has only ever been in squads for friendly matches. Although it may technically be a “friendly tournament”, the SheBelieves Cup will be her first games with something on the line. Heatley is taking it in her stride, saying, “I’ve been in the squad for some pretty big games but the US, Japan, and Colombia are all incredible teams. I’m really looking forward to the challenge…I’m going to try to perform the best I can and be the best player I can be.”
Thriving overseas, Heatley’s confidence is transferring from club to country. “I’ve been in Denmark for just over two and half years now. It’s feeling like home. The competition in the country is really good and the type of football is good. I’m loving it.”
Heatley captains the successful Nordsjælland, leading them to a championship last year. “It’s huge for my confidence to be having a big part at my club. The captaincy is positive towards my development as a leader on the pitch and having that extra responsibility is always going to add to your game. Being able to perform under that extra pressure of having some leadership has been really useful.”
With all the noise surrounding the team since the World Cup on home soil, especially regarding the Matildas players’ off-field activities, Heatley confirmed that no matter what the public sees, the experience and leadership of the heavily scrutinized stars is invaluable. “We’ve got such a wealth of experience with the older players in the Matildas squad. Whatever happens off the field, I think the value of all the older players is incredible and they’re all really good role models.”
“It’s been really cool to watch the growth of the women’s game, especially in Australia. The exposure and the added media attention is just something we’re all adapting to.”
With the growth of the women’s game, Heatley is confident that Australia is keeping up with the rest of the world. “We can look at all the girls that have come through the A-League and made their debuts for the Matildas in the last couple of years and how they have risen to the occasion. I think we can see that when given the opportunity, we have so much talent coming through the ranks and it’s talent that’s meeting the level of international football.”
“I’m always going to be an advocate for the more you invest, the more you get out of it. We as a country should continue to push the women’s game.” Heatley said, favoring investment in growing Football Australia’s support towards the women’s game.
Heatley has been a part of the programs that prepare the next generation of talent for the big stage. “When you’re playing in those Young and Junior Matildas squads you get the first time exposure to playing international opponents and the travel involved in that as well. It’s a really valuable experience and when I was coming through with the under 17s and 19s, it gives you that extra bit of fight to want to progress to the ultimate stage and play for the Matildas.”
As Heatley has risen through the ranks, performing at the youth level and in the A-League Women, she has patiently awaited her destiny. “I’ve always quietly known that I would get here and I’ve always aimed for this from the moment I started kicking a football. I’ve always wanted to be where I’m sitting now. In my eyes, it was a matter of time if I continued to do the right things.”
With Tom Sermanni as the interim coach, some fans are worried about the preparations for the upcoming Asian Cup on home soil. Heatley assuaged those fears, saying, “One of the things Tom said when he came in as the interim coach was that he was going to start preparing us for the Asian Cup, no matter whether he was the interim coach or not.”
This tournament is great preparation for the squad to play tough football while still bringing in new talent. “Having quality games in the lead-up is so important for us, especially having Japan in the group that we’re going to face possibly in the Asian Cup. That is so valuable.”
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