Heatley holds late brother close

On Thursday in Perth, where the Matildas are preparing for their opening group game against the Philippines, Heatley was equally eloquent, tears in her eyes as she referenced the pain of the past few months and signalled she would have more to say after the tournament.

“To play in front of my family is super special to me,” Heatley said. “It’s something that I want to talk about, and it’s not a secret that my step-brother passed away at the end of last year and even more so special when I play in front of my family at home.

“I think it’s something that I really want to talk about, and I’m really passionate about that sphere, but maybe something that I try and keep separate from the tournament and just focus on having my family there.”

Heatley has had to call on her football resilience multiple times in recent years, having experienced her first national team camp in late 2021 before missing out on the 2022 Asian Cup, 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics squads.

“I’ve been in a few scenarios over the last few years where I’ve been on the fringe and on that edge of squads,” she said. “It’s just taught me to release any sort of feeling of having control over those situations, and trying to be at peace with the people in power and their decisions. Trying to control what I have access to, and that’s just playing as best I can and improving every day.

“In the Olympics, it was one of those situations that’s really hard as a player. Of course, you want to represent your country at every possible moment, but it taught me to bide my time, focus on me and wait.”

In the months after leaving Danish club Nordsjaelland and joining Roma, it became pretty clear the former Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City player was basically a lock this time around.

Montemurro believes she’s “becoming a world-class defender”, and Italy’s level of detail around defensive organisation has tightened her already-refined game, with the question now being one of whether she will partner Steph Catley or Clare Hunt – or both at different points.

“The conversations that I’ve had with him [Montemurro] are just about continuing to improve every day and trust myself to make decisions. His trust certainly helps me to do that.”

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Arnold in doubt for Asian Cup opener in Perth after missing training

Emma Kemp

Mackenzie Arnold appears in doubt for the Matildas’ Asian Cup opener against the Philippines after sitting out training completely on Thursday.

Arnold was all set to be Australia’s first-choice goalkeeper for the entirety of the tournament following the 11th-hour withdrawal of Teagan Micah due to ongoing concussion symptoms, but the 2023 World Cup penalty-shootout star has barely been sighted on the field at the Sam Kerr Football Centre this week.

On Wednesday, the 32-year-old participated in 10 minutes’ worth of drills with fellow shot-stoppers Jada Whyman and Chloe Lincoln before she and Whyman walked off and into the strength and conditioning centre, leaving Lincoln to see out the open fan session with goalkeeper coach Tony Franken.

On Thursday, Arnold got off the bus with at the facility with the rest of the team but was not spotted on the field at all. In her place was a previously unannounced train-on, Morgan Aquino, a Perth local who is mid-season with American USL Super League side DC Power but currently on international break.

A Football Australia spokesperson said only that Arnold was “in the gym”, without further explanation.

Kyra Cooney-Cross was the only other player from the squad of 26 who did not emerge for training, though the Arsenal midfielder had missed a month of the Women’s Super League season to be in Australia with her mum Jessica, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.

For Arnold, load management would not be expected because, unlike the several late arrivals who sat out Wednesday’s training session after having played on the weekend, she is still in pre-season with NWSL club Portland Thorns.

Should there be an injury concern, Arnold’s reluctance to address her role in the team during Wednesday’s pre-planned media opportunity makes more sense.

“Honestly, there’s not really any conversation about that,” Arnold had said. “We’ve never really had a conversation about that leading in to any major tournament. Whoever plays, plays. I think they’re going to be able to do the job anyway; we’re all here for a reason.”

While only speculation at this stage, an injury to Arnold would leave Australia’s goalkeeping stocks incredibly thin on the eve of a major home tournament that doubles as the 2027 World Cup qualifiers.

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Lincoln, who was called up as Micah’s replacement on Sunday, has three caps and Whyman is uncapped, despite her long-term presence in camps.

In more positive news, both Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler had their boots on and took part in the warm-up drills open to media as if both had never had a fitness concern and did not just return from gruelling long-term rehabilitation programs.

Kerr is expected to join Montemurro at Saturday’s official pre-match press conference and, given the opening game is happening in her home town, may well play a central role.