Dub Zone LIVE: Liberty A-League scores, highlights, results, video, reaction and analysis

KEEPUP followed along LIVE to bring you all the biggest talking points from Dub Zone on Saturday afternoon, as the action unfolded across three simultaneous kick-offs in the Liberty A-League.

October 25, 2008: Michelle Heyman starts for Sydney FC in the first ever fixture of the formerly-named W-League.

March 25, 2023: Heyman starts for Canberra United against Western United, in her record-breaking 158th A-League Women outing, surpassing former record holder Teresa Polias as the league’s all-time record appearance maker.

It’s a monumental achievement which, to the Canberra and Matildas legend, was made all the more sweet by the end result: a resounding 3-0 win over Western which hauled Heyman’s side into the top four.

“It kind of makes me feel a little old, to be honest!” Heyman told Dub Zone at full-time, reflecting on appearance number 158 in the A-League Women.

“But also super proud of myself to be able to stay healthy and to be in this league. I feel grateful I was able to play in 2008 for the first game ever, and now to still be here, and still be competing at my age I think is a pretty special thing. I’ve just been loving it. The girls are really special and they made today really special for me.”

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Considering Heyman was set to clinch the record at City Vista Recreation Reserve on Saturday afternoon, it was only fitting that former appearance record-holder Polias was in the commentary box calling the action for 10 Bold.

The former Sydney FC and Canberra United midfielder notched 157 appearances across stints at Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC before stepping away from the A-League Women in 2021.

Polias joined Dub Zone at half-time on Saturday to congratulate Heyman – but gave perhaps her strongest hint to date that a return to the competition is in the offing next season.

“I am so happy for Michelle Heyman, she truly deserves it,” Polias told Dub Zone. “It’s a great sign that the league is going in a good direction. The record was going to be broken at some point – and who better than Michelle Heyman to break it? She’s in stunning form, and is just an amazing person. She truly deserves it.

“I might have to lace up the boots again next season and get out there and take it back!”

Is a comeback on the cards for one of the greats of the @LibFinancial A-League? 👀@midfielderT isn't giving her all-time appearance record up easily! 🤣

Tune in LIVE on #DubZone 📺 https://t.co/hg47LFeVg4 pic.twitter.com/73axnrTCDJ
— Liberty A-League (@aleaguewomen) March 25, 2023

Polias continued: “There’s a lot to consider there, and I haven’t closed the door completely yet. I know a few players have announced their retirement this week, great people, great players, and I was so fortunate to play with and against a lot of them. I’m not ready to make that call just yet.”

Heyman added her 158th appearance to the record books on Saturday afteroon – but failed to add goal number 13 to her tally for the season, denied by a contentious offside flag in second-half stoppage time.

But an incisive reverse pass to Canberra teammate Vesna Milivojevic did ensure Heyman ended the afternoon with an assist to her name; the Canberra striker leads the A-League Women Golden Boot race after 19 rounds, and the 34-year-old’s blistering domestic form has led to talk of a recall to the international fold ahead of the Matildas’ 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign.

Heyman gave the national selectors a signal of intent whilst speaking to Dub Zone.

“My main focus is Canberra United,” Heyman said. “We want to make this club special like it used to be, we want to be in finals football every year, so it all starts from now.

“I think for myself and the World Cup team coming up, I’m just putting my best foot forward, and that’s all that I can do. I think the control is in their hands.

“If they don’t want to take me then that’s up to them – but I think if I can continue to keep pushing, scoring goals and making a statement in this league, surely they’ve got to give me a go.”