The 26-year-old has been part of Victory's best start to a W-League season in their history and scored a goal against Melbourne City last round to help her side to their first ever derby win.

Her first Victory goal came days after she found the back of the net for the Matildas in their 5-0 win against Chile in Newcastle. 

Gielnik, who is Melbourne-born, played the majority of her football in Brisbane after moving up to the Sunshine State as a seven-year-old.

She signed for the Brisbane Roar ahead of the 2009 season but after spending eight seasons with the Roar, appearing 83 times and scoring 30 goals, it was time for a change.

"I had been playing in the same place for a really long time and I just needed to be challenged," Gielnik said.

"I didn't want to become stagnant there so it was all just to change and to challenge myself individually and grow as a player.

"I always said that if I was to play anywhere it would be for Jeff Hopkins and it would be a Melbourne team but obviously not City," she said.

Playing under the guidance of Hopkins was a key factor in her decision to move to Victory, having previously had him as a coach when she tried to break into the W-League with Roar.

It took a while for Gielnik to earn a spot on the Roar bench, which was hampered by an injury in her first season, but she understands the decisions made by Hopkins back then and has the up-most respect for him as he helped her become the player she is.

"He's made me work really hard for my spot and never take it for granted, I think that's helped me as a player in a way," she said.

There was also another reason the decision was made to move to Victory.