From post-concussion syndrome to stress fractures in her shins, Chelsie Dawber’s stellar 2020/21 season for Adelaide United and Adelaide City was “a long time coming”.
“Eventually I want to go overseas, play in England or Sweden and give myself the best opportunity to play for the Matildas,” she said.
But this dream was not always looking like a reality for Dawber after she was struck down with post-concussion syndrome in 2016 after a pre-match warm up mishap.
“When we were warming up, (a teammate) had a shot and I’ve gone to get the ball out the back of the net and as I’ve gotten up, she’s hit me in the back of the head and I’ve smacked my head on the wall,” Dawber said.
After the incident Dawber ended up playing the best game of her tournament, scoring three goals.
But the fun and games came to a sudden halt.
“After the game I fell on the floor and I couldn’t see,” she said.
“Once I returned to playing, I wasn’t playing very well. I was trying to play basketball and I couldn’t do a cross over, I couldn’t do anything.”
It was at this point Dawber realised she had to get herself checked out,
“I went to the doctor and he diagnosed me with post-concussion syndrome. He said it could take a few weeks or a few months to get over it, but of course I was a few months,” Dawber said.
“So that was probably the hardest year of my life.”
Fast forward three years and Dawber was back scoring goals for fun at Adelaide City, where she was named player of the year.
“I think having some good coaches the last few years led up to my successful campaign last year and I can’t wait to go again,” Dawber said.
With United narrowly missing out on an inaugural finals campaign by one goal last season, Dawber is hungry to make amends and go one further this time around.
“With the way last year ended, we are so hungry to for this season, we can’t wait to make finals and see how we go from there,” she said.
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