The grit test: ACLs in AFL

It’s the thing athletes fear the most - long-term injuries.   

They’re heartbreaking for even the strongest sportspeople.   

The lengthy time away from playing the sport they love, the long, lonely hours spent in rehabilitation and the nagging doubt: will I ever make it back from this?   

For Bull Shark and 2025 Riewoldt Family AFL Excellence Scholar Charlie Adamson, it’s a heartbreak she knows only too well.  

After tearing her ACL in a practice match at the start of 2024 and spending 11 months recovering, Adamson was excited to return to the field and pull on her Bull Sharks guernsey for the first time this year.  

Her comeback lasted for three stellar games before it all came crumbling down again.  

A tackle gone wrong, another ACL injury - this time to the other knee.   

We sat down with Adamson to discuss her rehab and the mental battle of overcoming an ACL injury.  

How it happened  

“Three games back, I was finally starting to feel like I’d never left. Everything was starting to click again,” she said. 

“I’d done the work - I was a fitter, faster, stronger and better version of myself. 

“I left no stone unturned during rehab. Blood, sweat and a lot of tears went into rebuilding from the ground up. 

“I was back doing what I loved, playing alongside a group of girls I absolutely adore and for coaching staff I wholeheartedly admire. You couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. 

“It was the dying minutes of the first quarter. 

“We were on top, hunting the footy. 

As a midfielder my role is simple: win the ball.   

“I was coming in to lay a tackle, but it was one of those wrong place, wrong time moments.   

“The momentum of the opposition carried them over me, and at the same time, one of my teammates collided into the contest. 

“As I fell backwards, my left leg got caught underneath me. 

“Both the opposition player and my teammate landed on it. 

“I knew instantly. The same pain. The same pop. My heart sank before I even hit the ground.  

“I lay there, not wanting to believe it. It felt like a nightmare. 

“The trainers ran over; the girls surrounded me. ‘Please, not again,’ I repeated. 

“But deep down I already knew it. 

“The look on their faces told me everything before the words even came out. 

“I’d felt this once before, and now I was staring down the barrel of it all over again.   

“I hobbled off the field convinced that I could run it off. 

“I couldn’t hold back the tears. Not from the pain - but from the heartbreak. 

“I had poured everything into getting back out on the field. 

“Every rehab session, every sacrifice, every lonely moment. I had climbed that mountain once. And now I was standing at the bottom again, looking up.   

“The fear was overwhelming. It wasn’t just fear of the injury, it was fear of losing momentum, losing progress, losing time with the girls, losing a part of myself I’d fought so hard to get back.  

“I tried to put on a brave face for everyone - they didn’t deserve to see me crumble.   

“But that night, with my family by my side, the tears wouldn’t stop.  

“I can’t do this again’ I repeated, again and again.   

“It felt extremely heavy, almost unbearable. 

“Everything I had worked tirelessly for had shattered.  

“There was grief, fear, heartbreak and frustration all tangled together. 

“But through all of it, somewhere deep down, there was still a flicker of fight.  

“I wasn’t ready to give in, even though in that moment it felt as though everything was crumbling down.” 

The physical and mental challenge  

“Physically, it’s the reality of having to completely rebuild your body and learn to trust it again.  

“You’re starting from scratch, from being bedridden after surgery, to regaining basic movement, learning how to walk properly again, rebuilding muscle and eventually progressing to running, jumping, and changing direction.   

“It’s not just about missing sport, it strips you of your everyday life. 

“I’m a super-active person; I love to move my body, surf, go to the beach, walk to the local coffee shop. All of that gets taken away in an instant. 

“You go from being completely independent to needing help carrying things, making food and even just getting around. 

“It can be quite humbling and make you feel vulnerable.  

“Mentally, it’s a constant battle with yourself. 

“The hardest part is showing up when you’re tired, discouraged, or unsure. 

“It’s the voice in your head questioning if you’ll make it through, if you’ll be the same athlete or better. 

“It’s staying committed through setbacks, plateaus and the loneliness of it all. 

“Ultimately, it’s a test of grit. 

“The discipline to keep going when it’s hard, the courage to trust the process and the strength to hold onto hope even when progress feels slow or invisible.”  

The people in your corner   

“I’m incredibly lucky to have an amazing support network around me and I know I’ll need every single one of them through this journey.  

“My dad is my rock. He’s been there through every high and low and always knows what to say, even when there are no words. 

“My siblings and extended family have wrapped around me with love, patience, and strength when I’ve had none left to give.   

“My teammates are everything. They’ve checked in, made me laugh when I needed it most and reminded me that I’m never alone in this. 

“Bond is more than just a football team - it’s a family. One I’m extremely proud and grateful to be part of.” 

The comeback  

“I’ve never been one to take no for an answer and this setback hasn’t changed that. If anything, it's made me hungrier.  

“Going through this again has reminded me just how much I love the game and all that it brings. 

“The road back is tough, but so is the fire in me. I know what I want, and I know exactly where I want to be.  

“The night of the injury, my dad said something that will stick with me forever, “this is just another chapter in your story, and I know that it's going to be an incredible one.”  

“Every challenge, every setback, just moulds me into a stronger athlete and a better human. I’m not done yet, not even close.” 

Her message 

 “ACL injuries are far too common in modern sport, especially in AFLW. It's a harsh reality that so many of us face, yet it's often misunderstood or underestimated. 

“What I want people, especially young girls, to understand is that these injuries do not define you.  

“They don’t take away who you are or what you’re capable of. Yes, they’re tough, physically, mentally, emotionally but they’re not the full stop on your story. 

“I’m still learning this myself, but you are so much more than your sport.  

“Your value isn’t just in what you do on the field, but in who you are off it. Your impact on those around you is far greater than any sporting achievement.  

“And even though it can feel like your world has stopped, you can come back — stronger and with more heart than ever before. 

“Your comeback can be greater than the setback.”