‘Extraordinary’ Matildas Moment Unveiled After Grand Final

In the wake of a Grand Final defeat, Emily Gielnik’s candid and sincere remarks shed light on the resilience of the Melbourne Victory star.

As the Central Coast Mariners celebrated their first Ninja A-League Championship with jubilant fans at AAMI Park on Sunday, Gielnik faced the media alone in the bowels of the Melbourne stadium.

Though the sting of the Grand Final loss was still fresh, the Australian standout kept her chin up and managed a smile.

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“This one felt a bit strange for me, because I’m usually the one in tears,” Gielnik shared with reporters.

“Instead, I found myself comforting everyone else, having been through this kind of situation many times—both the highs and the lows.

“I sort of stepped into a motherly role to reassure them that everything will be fine.

“We earned the right to be here and probably deserved to lift that trophy, yet there’s more to life beyond this moment. Another season awaits and more opportunities will come; keeping everyone healthy is what truly matters at the end of the day.”

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“It’s disappointing not to walk away with silverware, but it’s time for us to regroup, believe in ourselves, and look forward to the next season, aiming to return to this stage, as this is why we play the game.”

“Everyone aspires to be in a Grand Final. So I made sure to tell each of them how proud I am of their individual seasons. It was an emotional time filled with hugs and a few tears—it was definitely bittersweet.”

With the 2024-25 final ending 1-1 after extra time, penalties were needed, as Isabel Gomez and Claudia Bunge exchanged goals.

The Mariners ultimately triumphed in the shootout after Victory’s Alana Jancevski missed her shot, hitting the crossbar instead.

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“I shared a comforting embrace with her and said, ‘Lans, you’ll find yourself in this position again. Just take your next penalty and let this one go,’” Gielnik recalled, with Victory’s impressive 15-match unbeaten streak now at an end.

“I reminded her that I missed a penalty in the World Cup against Norway. There’s nothing that stings like missing a penalty. She’s top-notch at them—I’ve watched her score countless times in training. It’s all about the pressure; it’s got nothing to do with her skill, and she’ll bounce back from this.”

“The team rallied around her. It’s not a reflection of her talent; even the best miss penalties, and today just wasn’t your day. I told her that the best way to overcome this is simply to step up and take another one.”

With Victory’s season now complete, eyes turn towards Gielnik and her next steps.

At 33 years of age and out of contract, will she return to Victory for the 2024-25 season?

“You know, I joked about it recently,” she said. “Turning 33 hasn’t really made me feel any older.”

“Regardless of what others may think, I’m eager to keep playing, though I’m unsure where that might be. Everyone knows how much I care for Jeff (Hopkins) and love this club, but I truly wish I could provide a clear answer. My gut hasn’t guided me to my next destination yet.”

“Nothing is off the table, but I don’t have a definitive answer at this moment.”

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Gielnik’s season has been nothing short of impressive.

Recording 13 goals in 22 appearances—the highest tally of her career—she matched her previous best set with Brisbane Roar in the 2020-21 season.

The 60-time international for Australia managed to end a 785-day wait for a Matildas appearance last December but has since found herself absent from the latest international camps in 2025.

Despite her scoring success, she was not selected for June’s fixtures against Argentina and Slovenia.

Reflecting on her exclusion from the Matildas, Gielnik also recounted a “special” moment with Gomez.

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“Stats can be deceiving,” she commented. “I tend to be quite self-critical. I often think I could have scored more or performed better—it’s all about being realistic.”

“I’ve had my share of ups and downs in form. Of course, I still aspire to return to the national team, and while I haven’t focused on it much this year due to some non-selections, it’s always on my mind.

“Wherever I choose to play next year, it has to be where I can showcase my best football, as that’s what I ultimately want. I joined Melbourne Victory to win and collect more silverware, and hopefully to secure my place back with the national team.”

“I’ll definitely be returning to the drawing board and will put in hard work to earn my spot back in the squad.”

“It was truly special. I saw Izzy Gomez in tears, and I hugged her, saying, ‘Enjoy that first A-cap when you finally wear that green and gold. You’ve earned it. Relish every moment of it; you’ve had an incredible season.’

“It’s important to acknowledge others’ accomplishments. As I grow older and hopefully wiser, I find joy in uplifting others—she deserves it.”

“I can just imagine her excitement, and I still crave that feeling. It never loses its charm to don that jersey.”