NIKE F.C. CUP PROFILE: TARYN HEDDO

“It’s amazing to be able to build something for the game that I love. I’m like the luckiest person on earth, it’s the best.” Despite playing football for what seems like her whole life, Taryn Heddo tells us that it wasn’t until she watched the 2015 Women’s World Cup, that she became totally infatuated with the sport.

Watching that tournament on television, listening to football related podcasts and playing Football Manager video games are all part of what she describes as her “turning point”. Taryn admits that when she was meant to be studying, she was often glued to Football Manager instead. Whether it was from video games, Twitter or watching the W-League, she began to build a remarkable pool of knowledge, setting her up for a bright future in the area.

Growing up in Townsville, North Queensland, Taryn developed a love for sport which extends beyond football. She describes cricket as her “first love” alongside rugby league, which was like a “religion” in her hometown. Despite her interest in other sports, it was at five years old that she started playing football, as she found it offered more opportunities for young girls.

As Taryn moved to Melbourne, she continued to play, eventually landing at Yarra Jets, a community club. “All of my mates came from this club,” she says. “The culture there is fantastic, it’s really lovely.” Despite keeping a busy schedule outside of playing, Taryn has established herself as a goalkeeper coach for the 13-16 year old girls at Yarra Jets. “It’s the best experience ever, being able to coach them.”

Whilst Taryn so clearly loves playing the world game, building a career in football, off the pitch, is the ultimate goal of hers. She’s starting to realise that dream, having recently been appointed head researcher of the A-League Women’s database for Football Manager. “Everything led me to now, and I’m very happy with what I’m doing.”

Taryn’s lifelong involvement in football explains her in-depth knowledge of the game, and her passion extends beyond words. She understands football from both a tactical and technical perspective, and perhaps part of this stems from her positioning on the park as a goalkeeper, where she sees everything.

Collating a database for Football Manager means she has had to familiarise herself with players that could be potential prospects for A-League teams. This involves watching and analyzing players from state leagues, noting statistics and understanding players’ histories. It’s no easy feat.

Taryn’s schedule is jam packed, fitting in a day job three times a week, studying, writing football articles, catching up on games, researching, commentating, contributing to podcasts, coaching and playing for the Yarra Jets. Just thinking about everything Taryn is balancing is exhausting. However, she tackles this with great ambition, and that’s what makes her busy weeks so enjoyable.

If one thing is clear from our conversation, Taryn loves talking about football. She started commentating games in Victoria’s top tier, where she’s been able to develop her skills. Taryn’s talent with the microphone was recognised by Football Australia, who offered her an opportunity she describes as “the highlight of my life.” She commentated on the ParaMatildas recent World Cup matches. “It’s really important to me that I’m doing something that makes people want to listen. The last six months have been crazy.”

“The job of the commentator is to bring [the game] to life as much as you can, and I aspire to do that.” Taryn Heddo is so passionate, ambitious and driven in everything she does. She’s undoubtedly talented, and while she concedes that she has a lot to learn, she’s living her dream. “It has completely gripped me, broadcasting… you can just go mental, I really love that.”