This piece was originally published in early March. After Casey Dumont won player of the match in the 2022 Liberty A-League Grand Final, we re-visit her inspirational story: The nurse who became the patient
The last two years have been traumatic for Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Casey Dumont.
A registered nurse, she has witnessed the first-hand effects of COVID. And in September 2020, Dumont suffered the greatest setback of her injury-riddled career.
A torn achilles, which many footballers and sportspeople have not recovered from, triggered a spiral Dumont struggled to arrest.
“The biggest thing this time, unfortunately I had the chat with the doctor that I needed to. Because health wise I was not okay,” Dumont said on the eve of the Liberty A-League finals series.
Enjoy episode II of Liberty Extra Time below.
“I was a young adult that was basically making my time a lot shorter with how unhealthy I was.
“Every time I’ve had an injury I’ve gained the weight, gotten unfit, had a big journey to do. I locked myself away, which mentally was not good. But physically I came back. This time it was mentally first, then physically after.”
The achilles injury happened in a WNPL match with Blacktown Spartans, on the eve of the 2020/21 W-League season, which Victory went on to win, with Argentine international Gaby Garton in goals.
It followed on from a long list of injuries for Dumont that has included knee reconstructions, a lacerated liver and blood clots.
“That one was brutal. I suppose every injury has been brutal, but that one probably was the worst,” she said.
“It was the last 15 minutes of the match, through ball came in, I thought, great, easy take. Took a step, achilles gone. You heard the bang, you could hear me screaming in pain.
“I’m a registered nurse, every time an injury happens I disappear to the nursing, medical world. When I did my achilles, I’d only just gotten a job three months (prior). My boss was fantastic, said ‘I don’t care that you’re injured’, we’ll put you on desk work, we’ll find something, which was fantastic.
“Seeing people sick and then becoming the patient myself, I was like, Holy s**t, I really do need to actually eat my own words. My whole mindset changed.
“When you get knocked down, you always get back up, but also you really learn how strong you actually are.”
Victory coach Jeff Hopkins, who has coached some of Australian football’s top players and a host of Matildas, hailed Dumont’s resilience.
“Seeing her go through real pain barriers in her time, she’s got such a strong mentality, if she sets out to do something, she’ll do it. And that’s in all areas of life,” Hopkins said.
In career-best shape and rock-solid form, aside from a slight blip that saw her miss the final round of the Liberty A-League season, Dumont has been a vital part of Hopkins’ team that’s faced myriad challenges in defence of its title, starting with the loss of inspirational captain Kayla Morrison to a serious knee injury in Round 1.
Dumont, 30, has held down the No.1 shirt and helped Victory qualify for finals despite a hectic schedule. Victory faces Adelaide United in Sunday’s elimination final at Cooper’s Stadium.
“I’m so thankful and grateful that Victory has given me a chance to play another season. And my body has now done the complete opposite, I feel like I’m in the peak, the best I’ve ever been and I’m the oldest as well,” Dumont said.
“A lot of people have asked about Matildas and playing overseas. You know what my answer is? I just want to keep playing, I want to keep having fun. The future is just keep smiling and doing what I’m doing – whatever that is at the time.
“To me, football means numerous things. Camaraderie, passion, team spirit. Just love for the game or for sport in general. It brings all those little childhood dreams together because you get to have that team banter as well as you’ve got that winning feeling.
“And it’s just enough game time that it’s like, okay, I’m exhausted.”
While Victory snuck into the top four ahead of Perth Glory and 11 points behind the Sydney FC team they beat in last season’s grand final, it would be a brave person writing off Hopkins’ side.
With Matildas-capped Kyra Cooney-Cross, Courtney Nevin and Alex Chidiac available, Catherine Zimmerman (six goals) capable of scoring and star striker Melina Ayres making a timely debut after finally overcoming injury, not to mention an upbeat Dumont, Victory will travel to Adelaide with confidence.
