Winonah Heatley, a standout player for the Matildas, joined her team amidst a personal crisis, choosing to keep her sorrow private so as not to divert attention away from their upcoming games against New Zealand.
During their commanding 5-0 victory in Gosford on Friday night, the Matildas donned black armbands to pay tribute to Heatley’s brother, who had passed away the previous week.
Before the match, a message displayed on the stadium’s big screen read, “This evening, the CommBank Matildas wear black armbands as a sign of solidarity with Winonah Heatley and her family in their time of loss.”
The message also urged, “If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, remember that support is available.”
It highlighted that “Nearly 20% of people face a diagnosable mental disorder annually, and over 40% will encounter one at some point in their lives. You are not alone – our community supports you.”
Before making the journey back to Australia from Europe for the final matches of the year, Heatley shared the heartbreaking news with Matildas coach Joe Montemurro.
Matildas defender Ellie Carpenter embraces Winonah Heatley during their match against New Zealand
Heatley played despite the tragic death of her brother a week before the match in Gosford
‘She called me from Italy and said ‘I’m coming home, this has happened. I just wanted to let you know, and I want to tackle it this way’,’ Montemurro said.
‘But the strength, you know, for someone under these circumstances. And the thing that amazed me the most is that she didn’t want to tell the group.
‘She asked me to tell the group yesterday because she didn’t want to distract everyone from the game.
‘I’m getting goosebumps talking about that. That’s the sort of person that she is. She put the team first ahead of her personal situation.’
At Heatley’s request, Montemurro only informed her teammates on the day before the game.
‘She didn’t want to tell the group, she asked me to tell the group yesterday, because she didn’t want to distract everyone from the game,’ Montemurro said.
‘I’m getting goosebumps talking about that. That’s the sort of person that she is. She put the team first ahead of her personal situation, which would be tragic.
‘For me, a person of that nature, a person with that mentality, with that character, is incredible.’
Katrina Gorry has known Heatley since they were children and praised her for her strength
Heatley played a vital role in the Matildas’ 5-0 win over New Zealand, their biggest under new coach Joe Montemurro
Teammates rallied around Heatley once learning the news.
Veteran Katrina Gorry, a fellow Queenslander and long-time family friend, felt the shock deeply, having known Heatley since she was a baby.
She also knows the pain of competing through grief, after losing her father-in-law just two days before the 2023 World Cup quarter-final against France.
‘I don’t know how she’s kept herself so calm and composed this camp,’ Gorry said.
‘She always comes in with a happy face, always positive. She’s got an incredible head on her shoulders.
‘We are her family too and we’re always going to be there to support her. We’ll rally around her and continue to do that, and make sure she knows that she’s always got people around her to help her through the hard time – and also her family as well.
‘It was nice to go out there and wear the black armbands in support of her and her family and make sure they all know that we’re here for them no matter what.’
Heatley and the Matildas defence impressed in the win over the Football Ferns, who had only two shots on target for the night to the Matildas’ 15.
Still only 24, Heatley joined Italian giants Roma in July after three years playing in Denmark and shapes as vital to the Matildas’ 2026 Asian Cup campaign.
‘Look at the footballer she’s becoming,’ Montemurro said.
‘She’s becoming a world-class defender, she really, really is. I get a lot of feedback from her in Europe. They’re rating her very, very highly at one of of the biggest clubs in the world.
‘We’re honoured to have someone like that and the courage she’s shown this week has been incredible.’
The Matildas, who were without Sam Kerr who had a calf injury, meet New Zealand in Adelaide on Tuesday in their final build-up match before next year’s Asian Cup at home.
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