Heatley snatches Matildas’ dream

From rural beginnings in Mossman to regulating the Matildas’ midfield.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 28: Winonah Heatley of Australia discusses tactics with team mates during the International Friendly match between the Matildas and Brazil at Suncorp Stadium on November 28, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

From rural beginnings in Mossman to regulating the Matildas midfield.

Cairns star Winonah Heatley fulfilled her childhood dream of pulling on the green and gold after making her first official start for the Matildas in the 1-3 friendly loss to Brazil on Thursday evening.

Heatley, who played for Marlin Coast and excelled at Cairns State High School, was a bright spark in the tough loss to the South American powerhouse.

Australia's Winonah Heatley (L) and Brazil's Bruna Santos Nhaia fight for the ball during the women's international football friendly match between Australia and Brazil at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on November 28, 2024. (Photo by Patrick Hamilton)

The former Brisbane Roar (2019-21) said it was a full circle moment to start at Suncorp Stadum.

“It’s super special,” Heatley said.

“When I first moved down (to Brisbane) and watched the Roar play. I was just in love with the stadium, with the atmosphere. We used to all get on the bus from Ashgrove and come out here, now to be able to play in it. It was incredible.

“There were a few moments that I wish I would have held up the ball better, played a bit quicker. That’s the difference in the international game that I need to get used to.”

Heatley played 72 minutes in the match before she was subbed off with a minor injury.

The 23-year old showed interim coach Tom Sermanni why she is one of the Tillies most promising members of the next generation.

Winonah Heatley of the Matildas during a training session at Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre on November 26, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Matildas’ coach Sermanni praised Heatley after the match.

“I thought she (performed) admirably,” Sermanni said.

“She’s come in late into the camp. She’s mainly a centre-back, but we needed to have more of a physical strength in midfield, more of a defensive presence with the team that we had. I thought she did ever so well. She ran out of legs a little bit, which is to be expected. A couple of times the tempo of the game caught her out, but I think her workrate, the attacks that she broke down and the and the balls that she won, I thought she handled herself very, very well.”

Winonah Heatley in action for FC Nordsjælland in Denmark. Heatley is a Mossman junior, having previously also played for the Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City. Picture: Dejan Obretkovic

Heatley was a football-obsessed youngster. She asked for a football-themed bedroom and had a football cake for her birthday.

Described as “curious”, “energetic” and a “strong leader”.

Those traits are part of what has taken her to places far beyond her hometown, shining through at current club Nordsjælland in the Danish Women’s League, where she led her team to a league and cup title as captain.

Spending most of her professional career as a centre-back, she was deployed into midfield combining strongly with Arsenal’s Kyra Cooney-Cross in front of a back three.

“I loved playing midfield,” Heatley said.

“I love playing anywhere. I’ll play anywhere that I’ll get playing time. I’ve played as a fullback, then centre-back and as six (defensive midfield). So anywhere I can play, I’ll play.”

Mossman and Cairns junior footballer Winonah Heatley with former coach Martin Fehlberg from Cairns State High School football centre of excellence program. Picture: Pasco Rogato

Former coach Martin Fehlberg, who mentored the exceptionally talented footballer in high school, was not surprised to see Heatley excel in midfield.

Felhberg had deployed her as a midfielder during her days in the Far North and gave her the licence to run the show.

The Stratford Dolphins women’s coach said the call-up was a well-deserved reward for years of dedication.

“She could have comfortably started in the team two years ago,” Fehlberg said.

“She’s had to be patient, but when the opportunity came, I was very confident that she would adapt to the environment, and there’s no higher environment to make your first start in than Brazil – the silver medallists of the Olympic Games. But she acquitted herself brilliantly for the time she was on.”

“It’s unfortunate she finished the game early, but because those last two minutes of the full 90 is when she really comes into her own. She’s extremely fit, she’s got an incredible engine and when she was at the Brisbane Roar she blew the rest of the girls away at the fitness testing.

“I knew if she could stay healthy, with her attitude, determination and working at her game every single day. She’d succeed.”

Giovana Queiroz of Brazil battles for possession with Winonah Heatley of Australia during the International Friendly match between the Matildas and Brazil at Suncorp Stadium on November 28, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

After waiting in the wings for a number of years, Heatley was desperate for an opportunity and has gradually pushed her way into contention.

Heatley was substituted on for the Matildas in a pre-Olympic Games “B” international game against Canada in July this year, for which appearances do not count towards official records.

Before she made her debut as a substitute for Australia on October in Germany during an international friendly match against Germany, which the Matildas won (1-2).

After relentless pursuit, she finally achieved her lifelong goal.

Originally published as Heatley snatches Matildas’ dream