She's a Matidas legend with 130 international caps, but outgoing Canberra United coach Heather Garriock says the past three years have been the hardest and most influential of her career.
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The sun is setting on Garriock's first tenure as a W-League mentor, with the 37-year-old preparing for her final game in charge of Canberra on Sunday.
A victory over the Brisbane Roar would put United just one point away from making the top four, which would be Garriock's best result at the helm.
Capital Football opted not to renew her contract beyond this season after failing to make the W-League finals during her three-year reign.
But Garriock is walking away with her head held high, knowing she's been true to her character despite being under pressure in multiple facets of her job.
"It's probably been the most difficult three years of my football career, even as a player," Garriock said.
"I think it's exciting that I've gone through a grueling process of not making finals, obviously having to be creative with resources. In particular, you saw the South Africans last season, that was a bit of lateral thinking.
"I just think while it's been tough and when you're in it, you don't see the positives. I know I'll come out the other side and see so many great positives and I'm thankful for the opportunity Canberra United provided. Being at a club like this has taught me so many lessons."
The Matildas legend came to Canberra with high hopes when she began her tenure in 2017 as a new W-League coach.
United narrowly missed the final in her first season, finishing in fifth in 2017-18 before falling to eighth in 2018-19 - the worst result in the club's history.
Canberra struggled again this year, but Garriock says she's done the best she can with the available resources.
United appears to have been left behind in the battle for W-League supremacy as rival clubs increase their investment in the women's game.
It's believed Canberra spent $375,000 of the $450,000 club salary cap, excluding living costs, flights and accommodation.
Garriock credits herself on thinking outside the box when it comes to player recruitment, having provided opportunities to rising international stars and strengthened the capital's pathway to the W-League through the Canberra United Academy.
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"I've had to be very creative in the resources and in what I do as a coach. I think I'll reflect on this and be proud of what I've achieved," Garriock said.
"I've held my professionalism and integrity and I walk away from Canberra United knowing that.
"There's been times when my emotional stability could sway, but that's the one thing in particular I wanted to work on.
"My emotional stability in both training and games. I'm really happy I've been able to develop that for jobs in the future."
While Garriock has given local players a chance to shine on the W-League stage, she's also become a local herself.
Her family now call the capital home and love the community they've established here.
So when one door closes, another opens.
Garriock is looking to set up a private coaching program to help local players develop the technical skills they need to pursue football.
She's already submitted a proposal to Capital Football and hopes to begin her new venture in the next few months.
"There's a real hole within the technical ability of some of our players," Garriock said.
"I'm just excited to be able to guide them with my experience and help them develop more than anything because it's not a pressure job like Canberra United is.
"The reason why I'm really passionate about the technical side of things is because I went to Westfield Sports High and that's all we did for the first four or five years of my development.
"The girls have also been training once a week with Coerver and I think they've improved in leaps and bounds, Coerver has been fantastic for our girls."
W-LEAGUE ROUND 13
Sunday: Canberra United v Brisbane Roar at Lions FC Stadium, Brisbane, 5.30pm.
Canberra United team list: 1. Annalee Grove (GK) 2. Laura Hughes 3. Kayleigh Kurtz 4. Jessie Rasschaert 5. Nikola Orgill 6. Emma Stanbury 7. Simone Charley 8. Olivia Price 11. Elise Thorsnes 12. Hayley Taylor-Young 16. Karly Roestbakken (C) 17. Patricia Charalambous 18. Taren King 19. Leena Khamis 20. Sham Khamis (GK) 21. Rebekah Horsey *one to be omitted.