There are many stories of success in football, and there are even more of disappointment when players reach the highest level.

However, the best stories would have to be the ones where players climb their way back to the top after these disappointments.

Emily Gielnik’s return to the Matildas' squad is testament to her dedication not only to the sport, but to her ability to refocus and rediscover her passion for football through her fitness business and her embracing the master stroke in the positional change by Brisbane Roar coach Belinda Wilson.

Despite only having two goals to her name this W-league season with the Brisbane Roar, Gielnik has impressed with her speed, power and work rate in attack.

It is a rejuvenation of a career that looked like it had stalled in recent years after starting with a bang.

The 23 year old was dubbed the super sub early on in her footballing career, but she has now risen to the ranks to become Wilson’s number one choice up front.

After a superb season for the Roar, Gielnik pushed and forced herself into Matildas contention was rewarded by inclusion in coach Alen Stajcic’s Olympic qualifying squad.

Alongside Brisbane teammates and Matilda veterans, Clare Polkinghorne, Tameka Butt and Katrina Gorry, Gielnik makes a return to the national side after four long years.

“My re-selection felt very different this time”, she said.

“I actually did get emotional because I took all the pressure of making it back into the squad off myself.”

Gielnik first debuted at the age of 20 against Japan, playing 30 minutes.  The forward then spent a couple of years in and around the Matildas squad without getting a real foothold thanks to Australia's wealth of attacking options.

Recent injuries to the likes of Sam Kerr (ruptured foot ligament) opened the door and the Gielnik took the opportunity to impress in front of the national selectors.

“Emily is someone who is really positive and backs herself and has been a good goalscorer over a long period of time now” - Alen Stajcic

“Emily is not too dissimilar to Sam [Kerr] in a lot of ways. They are both extremely quick, they are both extremely powerful, they are both extremely unpredictable,” he continued.

Making the most of disappointment

Emily Gielnik in action for Brisbane Roar (Photo: Emily Mogic Phtography) Emily Gielnik in action for Brisbane Roar (Photo: Emily Mogic Photography)

Being in and out of the Matildas squad since making her debut for the national side in 2012 has left Emily Gielnik with a lot of time.

However, it hasn't been idle time with Gielnik starting and running a successful personal training business called ‘ShredEm Fitness’.

The ambition doesn't just stop at the national team level, with the Brisbane local in the midst of opening her own gym, coffee place and football training centre in Brisbane's south-eastern suburb of Capalaba.

With the pressure and focus of making the Matildas squad off the table, Gielnik shifted her focus to enjoying her football, putting the Brisbane Roar first.

The result was a feeling of finally beginning to play more freely, with less stress and worries about the fact she was not in the Matildas.

Taking that same attitude into her recent call ups into camp made a difference to the Matildas experience the second time around.

“I tried to have fun with it being back in there," she said.

"I think that allowed me to stay confident and back myself at the highest level.”

The word here is “having fun” and for Gielnik as long as she continues in this mindset she believes improvements will continue. A love of the game is something all players can take away with them, not matter their age.

Sometimes putting the pressure on yourself to make it at the highest level does not always work, there are times were you will need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

It is an attitude that has certainly been noticed at Matildas camp with Stajcic stating:

“She [Gienik] has been brilliant at camp and certainly one of the top two or three most positive players in our team.”

“I’m loving the environment, I’m feeling very focused and very fortunate to be apart of the green and gold again,” said Gielnik.

It has been a long road back for Gielnik to make it back in the national side again.

The Matildas will be hoping her hard work will pay off when the Matildas commence a campaign that will require all the positivity and collective will of the squad.

Australia takes on Asian powerhouse Japan in the Olympic qualifiers opener on Monday in Osaka.