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. 

Gielnik had not felt confident in herself for the last couple of seasons and while she believes she should've known this was affecting her football, at the time she didn't.

"I don't want to disrespect anyone but I felt that over the last few years that I have lost that bit of confidence and I wasn't playing like my usual self," she said.

"I feel like that rolled into the national team as well.

"For me, my life, in general, has just been a bit happier and everything outside of it is going well and that rolled into my coming off the bench [against Chile] and proving to be an impact player and I took that momentum and tempo into that game for Victory," Gielnik said.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

That #melbderby winning feeling 😁 #mvfc #ourvictory

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One thing also driving Gielnik this W-League season is the chance to go to the World Cup next year with the Matildas. Having made 24 appearances in the Green and Gold since 2012, she feels that her goal is within reach.

"It feels more in reach then it ever has before but it's my number one rule I don't ever want to be complacent," Gielnik said.

"I really want more than just a plane ticket, I want to be part of it, I want to experience it and I want to be on the playing field," she said.

It hasn't been an easy journey playing for Australia for Gielnik. 

She battled her way back into the Matildas squad ahead of the Olympic Qualifiers in 2016 but missing out on a spot in the squad headed to Brazil was tough and that came after being dropped from the national team ahead of the 2015 World Cup due to coaching changes.

So to make the World Cup squad and have that chance to represent her country in France, there would be no words to describe that feeling.

"There's actually no words for it really," she said. 

"It's almost like a life achievement, I've given so much to this game for such a long time now that it's almost like the icing on cake but once again the priority with that is to get the ticket and two to be in the best possible form and shape for the team to have the chance to take that World Cup home," Gielnik said.