Michelle Heyman reveals key to Canberra United’s revival and her first final in a decade

Canberra United finished last in 2024, then had their 2025 survival locked in just six weeks before kick-off. Matildas star Michelle Heyman reveals the secret to their stunning revival.

Canberra United have gone from finishing near the bottom of the table and being on the brink of collapsing to slipping into the A-League’s Women’s finals – a feat striker Michelle Heyman described as “wild”.

The 36-year-old ticked off her 200th ALW game – the first women’s player to reach the milestone – a few weeks ago.

But Heyman hasn’t played in a finals series since 2015/16. Canberra last made the finals in 2020/21. Heyman was in the team – it was her first season back after taking a break from the sport. But she injured her hip the week of the game.

“I had to sit in the grandstands for that game and just watch as we lost to Sydney FC,” Heyman said.

“That was our first time back in finals in a long time.”

Ruby Nathan celebrates with her Canberra United teammates after scoring a goal. Picture: Getty Images

Not many pundits would have expected Canberra to be back in the running this season.

They finished 11th last season, despite Heyman winning the golden boot with 17 goals.

It wasn’t until six weeks before the season started that the club managed to secure enough funding to keep them in the competition thanks to a generous bail out from the ACT Government.

It created a big task for coach Antoni Jagarinec.

“We had six weeks to pick a team, at the time I was unsure if I was even in the team as at that stage I was talking about overseas contracts, everyone else had already taken other opportunities because we had no idea if Canberra United was going to be around,” Heyman said.

“But Ant put a team together in six weeks, got us all on the park, talked about the values and the principles that we wanted to play for this season and then got us gelling as a unit.”

Aside from huge personnel changes Heyman said one of the biggest keys to Canberra’s success this season was a focus on defending. Last season they scored 39 goals, one of the highest in the league, but conceded 47.

This year they have scored 28 goals but conceded 31.

Michelle Heyman is presented with a 200 Game Commemorative framed keepsake and Jersey. Picture: Getty Images

“My mum called me (this week) and said how is it that this year Michelle you have only scored seven goals and you’ve made finals, last year you scored 17 and didn’t even come close,” Heyman said.

“Ant said from the start we were not going to be scoring as many goals this season but said if we win one nil it’s still a win.”

Heyman knows they will have to both defend and score if they want to survive their elimination final against Central Coast Mariners on Sunday.

“I always rate Central Coast, they have got some of the greatest midfielders playing in that team who control their whole system and how they play,” the striker said.

“We have an ex Canberra player, Bianca Galic, in their midfield, I’ve always rated her very highly as a footballer.

“It’s never going to be an easy opposition to play against.”

Canberra United’s Michelle Heyman in action during the season. Picture: Getty Images

What will be working against Canberra is lack of finals experience. Central Coast made it through to the semi-finals last season.

“Most of our team haven’t played finals before so it’s a first for a lot of people,” Heyman said.

“I’m excited for their nerves and their excitement and for them to feel what it feels like to be in the finals because it is a rare opportunity not a lot of players get.

“But just getting into final isn’t what we want, we want to win this game and the goal is still the grand final.”

Central Coast Mariners and Canberra United will square off at 2pm on Sunday (AEST).

Originally published as Michelle Heyman reveals key to Canberra United’s revival and her first final in a decade