Michelle Hayman celebrated her 200th A-League game on the weekend. Photo Canberra United
The last time Canberra United made the W-League finals, Michelle Heyman won the Julie Dolan Medal as the competition’s top player.
That was in 2020-21 when Canberra went down 3-0 to Sydney FC in the semi-finals.
At 36 years of age, Michelle is still going strong. Many would argue she is even stronger with her experience helping guide Canberra United into the finals for the first time since the 2020-21 season on Sunday (13 April) when United defeated the Wellington Phoenix 1-0 to secure a place in the six-team finals series with one round to go.
Canberra can’t be displaced from the top six as the Brisbane Roar are four points back in seventh position following the 4-4 draw with Western Sydney.
United’s victory was made all that more meaningful as it was Michelle’s 200th W-League game.
She has had stints with the Central Coast Mariners, Adelaide United and Sydney FC, but Canberra is where she has found a home, and the reaction from the almost 2,000 fans at McKellar Park on Sunday was an indication of the special place she holds in the heart of United supporters.
United’s victory completed an incredible weekend of Canberra sporting success.
Cameron Hill’s going to need a bigger display case. Photo: Cameron Hill Facebook.
Also on Sunday, Canberra supercar driver Cameron Hill finished second in the final race of the Taupō 440 on New Zealand’s North Island.
Cameron Myers in action. Photo: Cameron Myers.
Eighteen-year-old middle distance runner Cameron Myers won his first Senior National 1500 metres race at the Australian Track and Field titles with his non-selection in the Paris Olympic team a recurring motivator.
The night before, as the Raiders were demolishing Parramatta in Darwin, the Brumbies were putting the sword to the Queensland Reds at Lang Park.
Hudson Young celebrating at Allegiant Stadium in the opening round in Las Vegas. Photo: Bronwyn Fagan.
The Raiders appear to have more options in attack this season, and it was on show as they ran in eight tries in the 50-12 victory.
Hudson Young has emerged as one of the best players in the premiership this season, and he again crossed the line for a double over the weekend.
Meanwhile, the Brumbies came from 14-0 down to eventually account for the Reds, 39-26, in Andy Muirhead’s 100th game.
Brumbies winger Andy Muirhead in the Club’s first Indigenous jersey in 2020. Photo: File.
Like Michelle Heyman at Canberra United, Andy Muirhead has emerged as the heart and soul of the Brumbies and continues to be critical to the team as a whole.
Canberra sports fans have a lot to look forward to this year.
