A decade’s worth of wages in one year for Paris-bound Michelle Heyman reflects different world of women’s football left behind
From “piece of meat” to “piece of gold” – recalled Matildas striker Michelle Heyman details the massive changes between the 2016 Olympics and now, writes ERIN SMITH.
From “piece of meat” to “piece of gold” – Michelle Heyman said the treatment of the women’s national football team has changed dramatically since her last Olympics in 2016.
So much so that she will earn more money playing for the Matildas this year than she did in the first decade of her career.
Heyman, 35, made a remarkable return to the Matildas earlier this year in the wake of Sam Kerr’s devastating ACL injury.
It followed the in-form striker revealing she had been forced to announce her retirement from the national team in 2019 after they informed her she was being dumped from the Matildas roster.
When Heyman told Code Sports the truth about her forced retirement late last year she said the athletes were treated like “a piece of meat in the national team. As soon as they don’t need you, you are just gone”.
It is in stark contrast to the moving and elaborate send off the Matildas put on for retiring goalkeeper Lydia Williams in front of a sold out Accor Stadium.
And nothing like how Heyman feels this time around.
“The amount of staff we have, the amount of support systems that we have to keep us healthy, to keep us on the field is just incredible,” Heyman said.
“They’re just looking after us like we are pieces of gold, like everyone just wants to hold on to us and make sure that we’re doing really well at all times.
“To make sure that we are giving the best that we can on the field.”
The huge pay rise took Heyman by surprise.
“To be part of the Matildas and actually get paid well to be part of the team is crazy,” Heyman said.
“It probably took me 10 years to earn as much as I’m probably going to earn this year and it just makes you sad to think about it.
“I’ve been part of this sport for a very long time and the hard work that I put in back then is definitely paying off now.
“It’s just been an incredible journey and I’m so lucky that I’ve been able to see a little bit of both and to see how far it’s come.”
Following her forced retirement Heyman said she had come to terms with the fact she would never pull on the green and gold jersey again.
Until she watched the World Cup and saw the love, respect and admiration given to the Matildas.
“Watching them on the field and just seeing the crowd get behind them, I never got to experience anything like that during my first stint with the Matildas,” Heyman said.
Off the field Heyman could also see the team was having a very different experience to what she did during her first stint with the Matildas.
Players with children were able to bring them into camp with them, along with a support person. There were physios, psychologists and countless support staff in the camp.
Players were granted genuine football free days to recharge physically and mentally.
“So for me it was like I want to feel that and I could see the joy that it was bringing all the girls and I wanted that,” Heyman said.
“I remember sitting there and saying to my partner I’m going to do it.
“So I started pushing to be back there and just waiting and hoping that Tony (Gustavsson) would see something in me.”
Heyman was hard to miss this season.
She scored 17 goals in 22 games for Canberra United in the A-League's to take out the Golden Boot award.
“I kept telling myself just keep scoring goals like that, keep getting in the papers, keep smiling and trying to be front and centre,” Heyman said.
Heyman was recalled to the squad in February following Kerr’s injury in January.
She slotted straight back into the side. It was like she had never left.
In her first game back for the Matildas she scored in their 3-0 win over Uzbekistan in Tashkent.
She followed it up five days later, in Melbourne, with another four goals in their 10-0 victory over the same opponent – locking in their spot at the Paris Olympics.
Then she delivered the equaliser in front of a sold out crowd in Adelaide for the friendly against China in the final minute of the game.
Despite her performance though and scoring five goals for the Matildas across four games Heyman wasn’t certain of her spot in the Olympics squad.
“There is only 18-players and (Gustavsson) kept saying he needed versatile players and here I am, I’m just a No. 9, I only play one position,” Heyman said.
“I started thinking maybe it’s not for me but I just tried my hardest and tried to put my best foot forward and told myself no matter what happened I was proud of what I’ve achieved this year and just really grateful to be part of the Matildas again.”
The Matildas now have a three week break before gathering in Spain for their pre-Olympics camp.
Heyman will return to Canberra armed with a specialised training program and plans to do lots of running.
“ (Gustavsson) wants us to be the fittest team at the Olympics, so lots of running,” Heyman said.
“I’m just going to be pushing myself and making sure I’m the fittest, strongest and healthiest human I can be by the time we get into camp.”
As for her future – the star striker’s Matildas recall and shooting ability has attracted the attention of several clubs.
“There’s a lot of clubs calling, which has been really lovely,” Heyman said.
“I’ve put them all on hold because I really want to focus on these (friendlies) and making sure that I was in this team.
“But there’s a lot of potential out there and I’m definitely talking to everyone.”
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