Peppa Poultney

QAFLW Player - 22 y/o from Queensland

Last season, I tore two ligaments in my ankle during one of my footy games. It meant I was out for the rest of the season, and I spent two weeks in a moon boot and wasn’t allowed to run for ages after that. Watching my teammates continue to train and play without me was really tough. I hated being stuck on the sidelines while my friends were still out there doing what I love.

What made it worse was the fear. I felt disappointed, worried that I wouldn’t be the same player when I finally came back. I even started to feel a bit left out, like I wasn’t part of the team anymore. But I slowly turned things around. I set small goals for myself during rehab, first just being able to walk properly again, then doing strength work, and eventually returning to skills and running. I saw my physio regularly while following the program I was given, and stayed as involved as I could with the team.

Now, I’ve played every game this season and I actually feel stronger than before the injury. It took time and patience, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come. Even if you can’t play right now, focus on the small steps, every bit of progress adds up. You’ll come back stronger, and your team will be waiting to welcome you back.

Watch Peppa’s Story