In the pain of a Grand Final defeat, Emily Gielnik’s honest and heartfelt answers gave an insight into the Melbourne Victory star’s character.
While Central Coast Mariners continued to celebrate a maiden Ninja A-League Championship with their fans at AAMI Park on Sunday, Gielnik was fronting the gathered media in the depths of the Melbourne venue.
While the pain of a Grand Final loss was still raw, the Australian star stood tall with a smile.
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“It was a weird one for me, because normally I’m the one crying,” Gielnik told reporters.
“But I think I was more the one wrapping my arms around everyone because I’ve been in this situation so many times, and good and bad.
“I was more playing the mother hen role, and letting everyone know it’s going to be okay.
“We deserved to be there and we probably deserved to lift that trophy, but there’s life after this, and there’s another season after this waiting for you, and another opportunity, and everyone’s healthy, it’s the main thing at the end of the day.
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“It’s unfortunate to miss out on silverware, but it’s about us coming together now and just believe in themselves and looking forward to that next season and trying to get back here, because this is the reason why we play.
“Everyone wants to be in a Grand Final. So it was just me telling everyone how proud I am of them and what a season that they’ve all had individually. There was just a lot of cuddles and a bit of tears. It was kind of bittersweet.”
Penalties were needed on Sunday after the 2024-25 showpiece finished 1-1 at the end of extra time as Isabel Gomez and Claudia Bunge traded goal.
The Mariners emerged triumphant in the shootout after Victory’s Alana Jancevski saw her spot-kick cannon off the crossbar.
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“I had a good cuddle with her, and I said ‘Lans, you’re going to get in this situation again, all you need to do is take another penalty and you forget about this one’,” said Gielnik as Victory’s club-record 15-match unbeaten streak was snapped.
“I told her I missed one at the World Cup against Norway. So there’s nothing that hurts more than missing a penalty. She’s world class at them. I’ve seen her hit tons her training. She leathers it in the in the bottom side netting, and it’s just a pressure moment. It’s nothing to do with her talent, and she’ll get past it.
“You saw the team getting around her. It’s nothing about who she is or how she plays. Some of the best of the best miss them and today just wasn’t your day. I said, the best way to get over it’s just to take another one.”
With Victory’s season done and dusted, attention then turned to Gielnik and her future.
The 33-year-old is out of contract, so will she return to Victory in 2024-25?
“You know what? I know I may have joked about it the other day,” she said. “I turned 33 but I just don’t feel any older.
“No matter what anyone says, I’m just ready to keep on going and where that is, I don’t know yet. Obviously, everyone knows I have a soft spot for Jeff (Hopkins), and I love this club, but I I really wish I could give everyone an answer. But my gut feeling hasn’t told me where I need to be next year yet.
“So nothing’s off the cards, but I definitely don’t have an answer around that yet.”
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It was another impressive season from Gielnik.
She scored 13 goals in 22 appearances – the joint-best return of her professional career, matching the 13 she netted for Brisbane Roar in 2020-21.
The 60-time Australia international ended her 785-day wait for a Matildas appearance in December, however she has not been involved in the most recent international windows in 2025.
Despite Gielnik’s goalscoring return, she was overlooked for June’s fixtures against Argentina and Slovenia.
In her response to being overlooked for the Matildas, Gielnik also revealed a “special” moment with Gomez.
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“It’s hard when you look at stats,” she said. “For me, I’m quite critical. I always say I probably could have scored more, and I probably could have played better. I’m being reasonable.
“I’ve had ups and downs in form. Obviously, I still want to be back there, and I still think about it, probably I haven’t focused on it as much this year because I’ve had a few non-selections, but it’s always in the forefront of my mind.
“I know that where I decide to play next year, it’ll be where it’s going to where am I going to play my best football? Because that’s ultimately where I want to be. But I still want to win. I came to Melbourne Victory to hold some more silverware and win and and hopefully get myself back in that green and gold.
“I’ll just go back to the drawing board and do it all again. I’m not afraid of some hard work and grafting to get myself back in there.
“It was kind of special. I saw Izzy Gomez crying, and I thought I gave her a hug, and I said enjoy that first cap when you wear that green and gold jersey. I said, you deserve it. Embrace it and enjoy every minute because you’ve had a hell of a season.
“So you give credit where credit’s due. I think getting older and wiser, and I love making people feel good, and she’s deserved it.
“I just know how excited she must feel and and I know I’m still longing for that excitement. It never gets old wearing that jersey.”
