Life off the field has certainly changed for Western Sydney Wanderers recruit Heather Garriock over the past 12 months – but her passion for football has never been stronger.
Life off the field has certainly changed for Western Sydney Wanderers recruit Heather Garriock over the past 12 months – but her passion for football has never been stronger.
This time last year the Matildas regular had just given birth to daughter Kaizen.
On Sunday, the former Sydney FC star will make her first Westfield W-League appearance since 2010 against Adelaide United.
And the 30-year-old, who was named captain of the Wanderers on Tuesday, cannot wait to start the next chapter of her football odyssey.
“I played the W-League in 2009 and then fell pregnant, so it’s been a long time,” Garriock said.
“I went away with the national team two weeks ago so I’ve been back for about eight months or so and it’s nice to be back.
“I love it, it’s my passion, it’s what I’ve always done in my life but to have a family with it, it gives me a great balance.”
Garriock admits motherhood has changed her perspective on life but says her love of the round ball game has actually grown stronger.
“Just like anything, when you have a family obviously your family’s the number one priority but I think a lot of people thought that I’d lose the passion for football, but it’s actually quite the opposite,” she said.
“I think it’s a beautiful balance to have your family as well as your passion and have the support of your family, so yeah I think it’s really balanced me out as a person and a player.”
But Garriock admits balancing family responsibilities and a football career has its challenges.
“It’s very difficult not being a professional player and earning the finances you could to employ a full-time nanny so that makes it very difficult,” she said.
“I’ve got a supportive fiance and a supportive family that help out, so it’s just about having a support network around you.
“It’s a balance pretty much that Matt, my partner, he walks in and I walk out the door so we’re basically on different shifts but in saying that we spend quality time together when we can.”
The veteran admits donning the Wanderers’ colours felt strange at first but says she has been nothing but impressed with her new club.
“It’s been really positive, it’s always nice to have a fresh start and it’s nice to be playing for Western Sydney,” Garriock said.
“We’ve got a great team and we’ve gelled together really well.
“I think our strength is that we’re playing for each other and hopefully that can get us results as well as the technical side of things.”
Asked the club-s expectations for the upcoming season, Garriock said without hesitation: “To lift the trophy at the end of the season. It’s important for us and it’s what we’ve planned months ago in pre-season.”
