The announcement of "Australia" pierced through the September night air, igniting the roar of a 100,000-plus spectators jammed into the stands for the opening ceremony of the 2000 Games.

As the Australian team followed Andrew Gaze onto the track, Garriock remembered being greeted by the flashes of cameras - for what would be one of the pinnacle moments of her life.

And it nearly didn't happen.

"We all wanted to march in the opening ceremony and I'm grateful we did because we ummed and ahhed about whether it was the best thing for our preparation," Garriock said. "It was great we were able to march. The opening ceremony was one of the most amazing moments of my life.

"It was the most amazing feeling knowing the majority of people were shouting for the Australian Olympic team. The noise was piercing. It was pitch black and all you could see were flashes around the stadium.

"We had Andrew Gaze lead us out and when Cathy Freeman lit the cauldron, it was just ... I can't describe it. To rub shoulders with superstars of the Australia team was just amazing, I don't know how else to describe it."

The Matildas were unsure whether to march because they'd already kicked off their Olympics campaign two days prior in Canberra. Having lost 3-0 to Germany at Bruce Stadium, they were preparing for a crucial clash with Sweden following the ceremony - which they would go on to draw 1-all.

Garriock was just a fresh-faced 17-year-old at the Sydney Olympics and the near 25,000-strong crowd in Canberra was then the largest she'd played for on home soil.

Bruce Stadium hosted 11 of the 48 Olympic soccer matches but those plans were thrown into jeopardy just weeks before the Matildas' opener.

Its surface was deemed unsafe by the Olympics committee despite being relaid in early August at a cost of $400,000.

Some of the turf was grown in Cairns and suffered thermal shock when transferred from tropical North Queensland to Canberra's cold conditions.

The field resembled a patchwork quilt of green and brown, with sections of the relaid turf spray-painted before the inspection.

The surface was relaid for a second time before the September 13 kick-off that launched the Matildas' campaign.

It was the first time the Australian women's team had trained full-time for a tournament, with the squad based in Canberra at the AIS. Garriock joined the team following her first Matildas campaign in October of 1999, saying she has a life-long bond with the Olympic team.

"To all the other players who moved their whole lives, some had kids, I'm grateful that I got to make the team. It's really important to acknowledge them," Garriock said.

"It's been brilliant [to relive the Games]. It's 20 years on but it feels like yesterday, I can't believe it.

"It's so nice to see the national team ... we're still connected and have a strong bond. I reached out to Julie Murray and said 'I really appreciate you taking care of me, you were one of the older ones and I looked up to you. Thank you so much for leading me'. She wrote back. We're all still friends - you can't beat a bond like that."

The Matildas finished seventh with two losses and a draw, Garriock used as an impact player off the bench.

She remembered being in awe of the Australian Olympic team and met Muhammad Ali in the dining hall, saying she was so happy to be part of something so big.

And now the nation is preparing for its biggest sporting event since the Olympics, with the FIFA Women's World Cup to be hosted by Australia and New Zealand in 2023. Having played in the Sydney Olympics, Garriock said its success was an insight into what the football tournament could be like Down Under.

"Most definitely. Obviously not on such a high scale given the different spots but the one thing I thought when we did get announced as the joint hosts with New Zealand, which is incredible, is that 'Australia just loves sport'," Garriock said.

"Regardless of the sport they just jump on board and want to be able to support a worldwide event. Knowing that I've been part of the Sydney Olympics and knowing what it's like to have our Australian supporters, I really think it's going to be a memorable occasion. And that particular occasion will change football in Australia forever."