There were dark times for Emily Gielnik, but the Melbourne Victory star can now see the light as she fights to earn a Matildas re-call. The Australia international speaks to aleagues.com.au about overcoming challenges to return to form.
Resilience is a word that comes up often in this 20-minute interview. Emily Gielnik’s journey has required plenty of it.
Injury robbed her of a life-long dream; playing for the CommBank Matildas at a FIFA Women’s World Cup on home soil, and fitness issues have followed.
It left the A-Leagues great in a very dark place, one that had her considering her future in the sport.
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“I would say this was the hardest year I’ve ever experienced in my whole entire life and football career,” Gielnik told aleagues.com.au ahead of Sunday’s derby blockbuster against Melbourne City.
“Some people say it’s a fight or flight, some people crumble. I’m not going to lie, there were days where I felt like hanging up the boots. I’ve never been the most disappointed and defeated person in this football journey.
“I really felt the odds were against me. Then fighting so hard to get back and trying to get myself back in the national team too, then I get that calf tear. Now I’ve had to re-build again. It just felt like things kept happening and happening.
“I had to work a lot on my mental resilience. I’ve put in more hours than anyone on this planet in terms of building resilience, just simple things like yoga, breath work, more time in the sauna and ice bath, more time to myself and manifesting.
“It sounds crazy to some people but a lot of my football journey has been a mental game. But when you’re injured, it’s a different kind of mental resilience that you need to build and although I wish it was different for the World Cup and leading into the season, also through that dark time in my life was also the most growth I’ve had as a player and person.
“That’s something I can share to players and the football world leading into these next few years. It definitely took a lot out of me but I feel like I’m in a really good place right now.”
A 54-time CommBank Matilda, Gielnik – who hasn’t donned the green and gold since 2022 – added: “You always hold onto the hope that there’s a little bit of light and throughout that World Cup, there didn’t seem like there was any light for me.
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“The injury wasn’t getting any better. Of course you’re never going to get that home World Cup opportunity again. There were still a lot of silver linings for me and a lot to be thankful for.
“I’ve had to step back and reflect on what I do have. My support network was there for me when I wasn’t on top and times were tough. That also opened my eyes up to who my group of people are.
“It was testing times and everyone who knows me, I’m the biggest team player.
“I was the biggest Matildas cheerleader during the World Cup, but I’m not going to lie, it was really hard to be on the other side and not be out there trying to win that World Cup with the girls. It was the toughest moment of my life.”
Gielnik has emerged from the darkness, and can see the light. In her words, she is “starting to be myself again”.
Just look at her form as she continues to enhance her growing reputation for an international re-call.
Gielnik has scored six goals goals in four matches, while the 21-year-old has seven in total in 2023-24 – her best return since 2020-21 when she scored 13 goals for Brisbane Roar.
“I haven’t had the season I would’ve liked to, in terms of starting fit and healthy from game one,” she said. “I’ve had to play catch up.
“What I’ve been able to do in these past couple of weeks is just take the pressure off myself. Working on keeping myself fit and healthy, and I have an environment where I can go out and just express myself.
“I have the backing of (head coach) Jeff (Hopkins). He’s been extremely patient with me and made me feel valuable as a player throughout my whole entire journey of my ups and downs with the injury. (It) finally feels like I’m back and I’m finding some form.
“(The key) for me and any player is to get in a good place, but it’s even harder to stay there. My challenge is now to stay here and be consistent with my performances, and doing anything to help the team win really.
“Obviously scoring goals is a bonus but I just want to be out there playing and doing my job in attack and defence.”
Last weekend, Gielnik produced a masterful display to lead in-form Victory past Adelaide United 4-1.
She scored her first hat-trick since March 12, 2021 as the title hopefuls made it eight matches without defeat.
Gielnik was almost unplayable at Coopers Stadium in Round 19, where her power, pace and precision were on display throughout the 90 minutes.
“Obviously I hold really high standards, so for me I feel like I can always be better,” she said. “I can always be doing more. I’m happy with moments in the game but I still feel like I can be fitter and faster, and stronger.
“Although from the outside, it’s perceived I’m all of those things and I am but I want to be working at them to be the best in that department.
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“For me it is really is a confidence thing. With more minutes, you get more confidence. With more fitness, you feel more confident on the ball and you’re able to do more on the ball. I’m in a good place mentally. Physically I have high standards, I want to be fitter. I’ve had my first 90 minutes under my belt.
“Even when certain things go against me, I can still deliver. That’s what it’s been over the last year. I’ve never lost my resilience through all my ups and downs, and that’s starting to show in games.
“Even in training, I’m just starting to be myself again out there. Make more runs and as soon as I took the pressure off myself of how many goals can I score this season? It’s like how I can help this team win? I’ve been rewarded with goals.”
While Gielnik took home the match ball with her three-goal haul in South Australia, she could have scored four goals against the Reds.
The striker rounded the goalkeeper outside of the box 10 minutes from the end, but Nanako Sasaki produced an incredible last-ditch tackle to prevent a certain goal.
Her response to that moment summed up the elite mindset.
Asked if she had copped flack from her teammates, Gielnik said: “Oh no, I copped it from myself. My teammates were too kind to me.
“Everyone said why aren’t you happy about your hat-trick? I am happy about the hat-trick but I’m fuming about the chance that I missed. I went to bed that night staring at the ceiling for a few hours, scoring that goal in my head over and over again, 50 different ways.
“Instead of being content with the hat-trick, I’m thinking about the one chance that I missed. That just shows I am doing well at the moment, but I still have room to improve. I’m not my fittest version of myself yet – fatigue set in, poor decisions and a sloppy pass in the end. If I could go back, I’d do it all over again because that’s a striker’s dream to be out running solo towards the goal once you’ve beaten the goalkeeper.”
Gielnik has also ticked off a milestone this season in pursuit of earning a spot back in the Australian squad.
There is no hiding the fact that the CommBank Matildas and an Olympic Games berth are at the forefront of her mind, having last represented her country almost two years ago.
While she takes inspiration from seeing Canberra United and A-Leagues legend Michelle Heyman return to the international fold after six years in the wilderness as reward for her form in 2023-24, Gielnik does not want to stray from her current mindset.
“It’s hard as a striker seeing another striker go in,” said Gielnik, who featured at the 2019 World Cup.
“But at the end of the day, I was one of the first people to message Michelle because that’s what I want. I want people rewarded for hard work and I hope that goes around and comes around.
“You never want to be bitter. She deserved that call-up and she did really well. She’s played in the league a long time and been consistent. When you’re in good form, I feel it does need to be rewarded. She’s living proof of that. Hats off to her, that’s a lot resilience. Six years away from the Matildas and keep plugging away, then gets her shot again.
“For me, it’s just about finding form. I’m in the headspace now that I’m doing all I can do. I’m still trying to be better and consistent. What will be, will be. I’ve already missed out on something I dreamt my whole entire life as a footballer – a home World Cup.
“I know the Olympics are in the forefront of my mind but right now, I’m trying to be grounded and present. This is going to keep me in form and building a block of what could potentially get me back there. So I don’t want to steer too far away from thinking too far ahead. Definitely in my mind, I just want to keep this form at all costs.”
