Michelle Heyman Celebrates 200th Appearance as Premiers Plate Battle Intensifies | Dub Zone Episode 21
As Michelle Heyman gears up for her 200th appearance in the Ninja A-League, aleagues.com.au looks back at the significant milestones that have marked the Canberra United star’s record-setting journey in football.
Loyal. Goal machine. A genuine individual.
Legendary.
These are the qualities Michelle Heyman aspires to be remembered for when she eventually decides to hang up her boots after a phenomenal career in the Ninja A-League.
However, fans can rest easy; that farewell is still a long way off. The 36-year-old has much more left to achieve, starting with a milestone that no player in the league’s history has reached: participating in 200 games in the Ninja A-League.
Heyman will hit this remarkable milestone on Sunday afternoon, and it’s only fitting that McKellar Park, the home of her beloved Canberra United, serves as the backdrop for this historic moment.
The league’s all-time top appearances holder and leading goalscorer, Heyman is a two-time winner of the Julie Dolan Medal, a two-time champion, and a three-time Golden Boot awardee—all of which she has completed despite taking a year off in 2019.
As a true icon of the Ninja A-League and the CommBank Matildas, Heyman’s exceptional journey is set to reach even greater heights this weekend. A-Leagues commentator Teo Pellizzeri aptly summed up her career on this week’s episode of Dub Zone.
“You could practically split Michelle Heyman’s career into two halves, with each half worthy of induction into the Football Australia Hall of Fame,” Pellizzeri remarked.
“Few athletes globally manage to achieve that.”
Michelle Heyman (2008-2019)
- 115 Ninja A-League appearances & 63 goals
- 61 Matildas appearances & 20 goals
- One Julie Dolan Medal (2009)
- Two Ninja A-League Golden Boots (2009, 2011-12)
- Two Ninja A-League Championships (Canberra United 2011-12, 2014)
- Two Ninja A-League Premierships (2011-12, 2013-14)
Michelle Heyman (2019-present)
- 84 Ninja A-League appearances & 54 goals
- 16 Matildas appearances & nine goals
- One Ninja A-League Golden Boot (2023-24)
- One Julie Dolan Medal (2020-21)
THE FINAL STRETCH: Five hours could determine the Premiership & experts divided over Golden Boot discussions
Seventeen years ago, the young striker from Shellharbour made her mark in the inaugural season of the Ninja A-League.
A single season at Sydney FC was followed by a breakout year at Central Coast Mariners, where she scored 11 goals in 10 games, bringing her career total to 17 and, at just 21 years of age, earning her the league’s Golden Boot and the Julie Dolan Medal in 2009.
Over the past 16 years, Heyman’s goal tally has soared to 117 across 199 matches. Fellow Matildas veteran Tameka Yallop ranks second in the all-time scoring chart with 71 goals, underscoring the extraordinary nature of Heyman’s scoring ability.
By 2025, Heyman’s status as a bona fide legend is undeniable, much like it was in 2019 when she made the shocking announcement of her retirement from football after a challenging season at Adelaide United.
At that time, she had amassed 61 Matildas caps, netted 20 international goals, made 115 league appearances, scored 63 times in the Ninja A-League, and claimed two Golden Boots and two Julie Dolan Medals.
After a year’s hiatus, Heyman made her return to Canberra United.
Refreshed, both mentally and physically, she added another 84 league appearances to her career stats, scoring 55 more goals for Canberra, securing a Golden Boot and a third Julie Dolan Medal along the way.
In 2024, following a six-year break, Heyman rejoined the Matildas fold, achieving 16 additional caps and netting nine more goals for her country.
A Hall of Fame career before retirement, and another after. Combining the accolades and statistics from both chapters of her career reveals a player whose influence on Australian football has been profound, creating a legacy that will resonate through generations.
On the eve of her 200th Ninja A-League match, the Australian football community comes together to honour Michelle Heyman for the qualities she desires to be remembered by: loyalty, a good human being, a goalscorer, and a legend.
“I can’t believe I’ve reached this point,” Heyman said while reflecting ahead of her milestone match.
“It’s quite surreal to think about it. From the league’s inception in 2008, when we played just 12 to 14 games, to now reaching 200 games, it truly feels like an incredible achievement. I feel immensely proud and grateful to still be part of this game.”
Heyman’s career could have taken a very different turn; in 2019, she found her passion for the game dwindling.
In late 2020, she shared how a tough season in Adelaide and the heartbreak from a series of injuries that thwarted her ability to represent Australia at the 2019 Women’s World Cup led to her breaking point.
“When I announced my retirement, I was genuinely not in a happy place,” she reflected. “Mentally, I was drained and felt defeated. I didn’t feel like my true self anymore; I was struggling.”
“Despite the rehab sessions and the training, I just wasn’t getting better, and the injuries stubbornly lingered on.”
“So I decided the best course was to say ‘thank you for everything’, and walk away.”
THE FINAL STRETCH: Five hours could determine the Premiership & experts divided over Golden Boot discussions
The year away was filled with ups and downs. It was the year Heyman lost her late father, David, who was her biggest supporter and a significant influence on her footballing journey.
It was also the time she found love with her partner Christine, who is soon to become her wife following their engagement last year.
Midway through 2020, Heyman’s desire to return to football could no longer be suppressed. After a conversation with former Canberra coach Vicki Linton, she was encouraged to ease back into the sport through the NPL.
She signed with NPLW New South Wales side Sydney University, unsure if she still possessed what it took to make an impact.
Her debut for Sydney Uni occurred on Father’s Day, in September 2020. As she drove to the match, she listened to John Fogerty and Creedence Clearwater Revival, her father’s favourite tunes.
“My dad was everything to me. As I arrived at the ground, I was filled with nerves and emotion,” she recalled. “I thought to myself: ‘Let’s see how it goes after such a long absence.’”
“During the match against the Football New South Wales Institute, I sprinted past the younger players and realised, ‘Hey, I still have my speed!’ I couldn’t stop laughing because I was unsure how I’d perform. Then, on my second touch, I scored a goal.”
“I just slipped right back into the groove, and I thought: ‘I’ve still got this!’ That was an incredibly uplifting moment for me.”
Before long, Heyman rediscovered the joy she thought she had lost. Football had always been her “happy place”, and although it took an early retirement for her to remember this, it was a realisation she quickly reclaimed on her return journey from Sydney Uni to Canberra United.
Looking back now, she wouldn’t change a thing about her path.
“It always came down to my love for the game,” she said. “Just being able to run around and kick a ball brings me joy. On the days when I’m off and unhappy, I remind myself to take a moment for my mental health and reflect on how fortunate I am to have the ability to do this as a career.”
“Going through the tough times taught me to appreciate what makes me happy.”
“True friendships became evident when I faced hardship, showing me who truly supported me throughout my career. It was revealing to discover whether I stayed in touch with former teammates once I stepped back.”
“However, I was fortunate to place myself in a good position, take some time for self-reflection, and truly enjoy stepping away from football to heal. This allowed me to reignite my passion for the game.”
“It all began during COVID when I started kicking a ball against a wall, and it flooded me with memories of why I loved the game.”
“It’s been a challenging journey, but an incredible one. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
As Heyman approaches her 200th Ninja A-League match, teammates past and present have come together to recognise the significance of this milestone achievement.
Former Sydney FC star Teresa Polias held the record for most appearances in the Ninja A-League before Heyman surpassed her previous total of 157 matches in 2023.
Polias fondly recalls the days in 2008 when 120 players turned up to Valentine Park to trial for Sydney FC ahead of the inaugural season of the Ninja A-League. Both Polias and Heyman were part of that historic group.
“Her journey is remarkable,” Polias shared on Dub Zone.
“I remember back in 2008, 120 of us trialing at Sydney FC, with all of us competing on fields five and six at Valentine Park. To see what she has achieved since then is incredible…the football alone speaks volumes. But she’s also a good person who has enhanced team culture wherever she’s played. That’s truly significant.”
MAGICAL MARINER: Coach praises ‘untapped talent’ deserving a spot in the Matildas squad
For players like Heyman and Polias, accumulating appearances in the early days of the Ninja A-League was no easy task.
The league kicked off with just eight clubs and a mere 10 regular-season games in 2008. In subsequent seasons, the regular season expanded to 12 games in 2010-11, remaining that way until 2021-22 when it grew to 14. The following season introduced 18 regular-season matches, and now, thanks to league expansion, players can accumulate 23 matches every season.
“It’s remarkable,” Heyman reflects on the evolution of the league since its inception in 2008.
“Reflecting on all the girls receiving their 50 caps makes me think about how I’ve been involved for so long! It’s special to witness the number of games we now get to play home and away. We’ve fought long and hard for this, and it’s incredible to see it come to fruition.”
Canberra United defender Hayley Taylor-Young was only six years old when Heyman made her Ninja A-League debut in 2008. Now they’re teammates at Canberra United; in fact, 53 of Taylor-Young’s 63 league appearances have come alongside Heyman since her debut as a teenager in 2019.
At just 23, Taylor-Young is part of the next generation benefitting from the groundwork laid by early pioneers in the Ninja A-League, who played a crucial role in shaping the league’s history.
To the young defender, Heyman is not just a teammate but also a hero, a football icon, and now, a close friend.
“I was probably still in primary school when Heyman debuted,” Taylor-Young said. “I grew up idolising her, and now she’s literally one of my closest friends. It’s incredible how life can change and how many friends you create in this environment.”
“She means everything to us. She imparts so much wisdom during trainings, almost like a coach on the field. I look up to her immensely and always seek her views during games. She’s always there to help.”
THE FINAL STRETCH: Five hours could determine the Premiership & experts divided over Golden Boot discussions
This weekend, as she approaches game 200, the Canberra legend is seeking more of everything: more goals, more recognition, more silverware, and, most importantly, more of the joy that football has brought to her life for so many years.
“I’m incredibly thankful for my time in this league and for all the remarkable people I’ve met,” she expressed.
“From every coach, to fellow players, and the entire Canberra United family, I’ve learned so much from each one of them. Their support means the world to me.”
“I still keep in touch with people who have been part of the Canberra ranks, and that connection is special—this club is family, it’s home. You play here, and you’re part of this forever!”
“I’m aiming for more of everything,” she concluded.
“It’s about being a leader, a mentor, assisting my teammates in achieving their aspirations, while giving my all on the field and striving to be the best role model I can be. I also want to score as many goals as possible, win awards, secure trophies, and bring that glory back to Canberra United.”
Canberra will host Wellington Phoenix at McKellar Park at 3pm AEST on Sunday. Join us to witness history as Michelle Heyman plays her 200th Ninja A-League game! Grab your tickets now.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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