When Winonah Heatley was six years old, she made a decision. She was going to be a professional footballer and play for Australia.
Now, after taking part in a ‘B’ International match against Canada in the lead-up to the Olympic Games, the girl from Cairns is on the cusp of fulfilling her childhood dream and pulling on the green and gold to make her official CommBank Matildas debut.
“I was around six years old when I decided that I wanted to play for Australia and be a professional footballer,” she told Football Australia Media.
“I had no idea what that would look like because I grew up in a place where no one became a professional athlete. It wasn’t even an option, it wasn’t visible in the media.
“Even though I decided really young, I had absolutely no idea what it would look like. So everything that happens is all very new to me, and all very exciting.”
Heatley was the quintessential football-obsessed youngster. She asked for a football-themed bedroom and had a football cake for her birthday.
Her passion has taken her all over the country and now across the world as she progressed through her national team and club careers.
“As a 15-year-old moving to Brisbane when I first got called into the u17s team [the CommBank Junior Matildas], it was unfathomable to me,” she said.
“Every step from there is just – it will never get old. It’s always such an honour.”
Three years after those first appearances for the junior national team in 2017, she debuted for the Brisbane Roar alongside fellow centre-back Clare Polkinghorne.
A move to Melbourne City followed for the 2021/22 season before her superb A-League Women’s form earned her both her first call-up for the senior national team and a transfer overseas to Danish club FC Nordsjælland in 2022.
Two words she used to describe herself were “curious” and “energetic”. Those traits are part of what has taken her to places far beyond her hometown and helped her grow as a person and a footballer.
“I’m a big believer in ‘everything happens for a reason,’ and everything happens in the exact order it’s supposed to happen,” she said.
“Every move and every part of my football journey so far hasn’t been easy, but it’s led me to where I am now. It couldn’t have happened any other way.”
Another word was “kindness.” When asked directly, she struggled to articulate why she would describe herself that way, or what makes someone kind.
However, that trait shone through when she spoke about her leadership at Nordsjælland, where she led her team to a league and cup title as captain.
“It’s been an unreal year and a bit at my club,” she said.
“Being one of the leaders in the group now is such an honour. It’s not really something I expected, but it’s just another example of something being added to my game that’s only making me better.
“Playing with that extra bit of responsibility and not only focusing on my performance but thinking – how can I lift others around me? – has been tough, but also, really rewarding.
“My idea of leadership is very much leading by example. Just trying to do things that you would expect others to do.”
It may well be the case that her position at centre-back has contributed to those leadership qualities.
“I like to try and be the player that works as hard as I can, and try to lift other players up around me,” she explained when asked about who she was as a player.
“I try to encourage others, keep communicating, being loud, and trying to lift up the team.
“It’s always difficult to be the last line. There’s always that added bit of pressure when you’re on the ball, and when you’re off the ball as well.
“That’s what makes being a centre-back so exciting and so fun. You’re not only play-making and doing all the things that other players are doing on the field, but you also have that added pressure.
“You’ve got to read the game, and be positionally spot on.”
This camp could potentially be an enormous one for Heatley. Not only could it be the culmination of a lifelong dream, it could also be the start of what could be a long career with the CommBank Matildas.
Ever steady, and ever composed, Heatley was just focused on continuing to build, learn and grow towards the Asian Cup in 2026.
“My goals at the moment are based on myself, personally,” she said.
“I want to keep working on my game, and be the best that I can be.
“I can then hope that comes with the added possibilities of going to the Asian Cup and just continuing to be in this environment – and keep getting better.
“In this next cycle, I’m definitely keen to try and be a part of those squads, and do everything I can to make that happen.”
COMMBANK MATILDAS | OCTOBER 2024 INTERNATIONALS
Switzerland v CommBank Matildas
Date: Friday, 25 October 2024 (local) / Saturday, 26 October (AEDT)
Kick-off: 8.00pm CET (local) / 5.00am (AEDT)
Venue: Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich
Broadcast: Paramount+
Tickets: Ticketmaster (Switzerland)
Germany v CommBank Matildas
Date: Monday, 28 October 2024 (local) / Tuesday, 29 October (AEDT)
Kick-off: 6.10pm CET (local) / 4.10am (AEDT)
Venue: Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena, Duisburg
Broadcast: Paramount+
Tickets: DFB Ticket Portal
