588 days

That’s how many days it’s been since I last stepped onto a football field and did the thing I love most. In that time, I’ve felt frustration, doubt, hope, and everything in between. I’ve been tested in ways I could never imagine and felt feelings I didn’t even know I had. It hasn’t been easy, but I know every setback I have had has taught me something. And through it all, I’ve come out stronger, more resilient, and more grateful for the game than I did before.

In those 588 days lots of things in my life have changed. I graduated high school, started a job, moved houses, made new friends, and lost a brother. I felt the happiest I’ve ever been, and also the saddest. I aged two years, travelled a bit, and am about to start uni. I’ve learnt a lot more about myself than I ever thought I would. All while chasing one main goal: getting back to football.

Before I got injured, football was my whole identity. It was how I saw myself and how I thought the world saw me too. But the last almost 600 days has showed me that there’s so many more parts of me that exist beyond the game. I’ve learnt that I love working with children and eventually one day want to build a future in that space. I love spending time in nature and especially going on little beach trips where the world slows down and nothing else matters. I’ve started to really appreciate my own company and like being independent. I now know how important it is to surround myself with a good support network that will always be there for me. And I’m still learning how to cook.

 But at the same time, I’ve also learnt a lot about myself as a footballer. I’ve learnt patience when progress felt invisible. I’ve learnt resilience when motivation was hard to find. And most importantly, I’ve learnt that my identity isn’t defined by how well I play or train. Football is something I do, it is not all that I am.

There were days and still sometimes are where I question if I’ll ever feel like myself again. Some days I feel amazing and some days I don’t. I probably have to understand that this is what football is like, not everything is linear even at the best of times and at the highest level. Football is a game that comes with highs and lows, good days and bad days, and I’m learning to accept all of it as part of my journey.

I think the last six months have been some of the hardest, but also some of the most rewarding months yet. I finally passed all my gym testing, and my scores were apparently very good, which was something I struggled with for a long time. So, for the last 6 months I’ve had an extended preseason with no modifications in training or any pain in and around my knee. Of course, there were moments where I felt discomfort, but it never lasted longer than a week, and I know my body well enough now to know when I can push through the pain, because it isn’t always a bad thing. I think these last 6 months were so hard for me was because I felt ready to play, but there just weren’t any games that I could play in, which was extremely frustrating to say the least. On the upside, I got in 6 solid months of consistent training, and I started to feel like myself again. I was able to try things that I used to do and try some new things to. I built back my confidence and slowly started rebuilding myself as a footballer.

When I step back onto the field, I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. I want to enjoy being on the ball and I want to play freely with a smile on my face. I want to remember the hard work, the tears, the setbacks, and the quiet victories that got me here. Most of all, I want to remind myself that I deserve this moment.

On the 31st of January 2026 I got to step back onto the football field for the first time since the 22nd of June 2024. I was so excited in the weeks leading up to this moment but when the day finally came, I was hit with a rush of nerves. I’ve been waiting for this moment for as long as I can remember, and I was obviously very emotional as I looked back on all the hard work I’ve put in and everything I’ve gone through to get to this point.

It felt weird actually rocking up to a game and having to get ready to play. Usually, I was just there to watch. Before warm up I had to try calm myself down, I sat alone for a bit and thought to myself that everything is okay. I don’t know why but I always seem to work these sorts of things up in my head much more then I should. Warm up was a lot faster than I remember and I didn’t even have much time to think about the game before I was actually there. The next thing I remember was being on the field and the whistle blowing. I was on for 30 minutes and I felt completely fine and wanted to stay on for longer, but I wasn’t allowed. I didn’t touch the ball as much as I hopped but when I did, I didn’t feel out of place at all. I got to test my speed, got in a few tackles, I think I got to dribble once, and made a few recovery runs. I reckon this was a good first game back for me as I was challenged in lots of different ways, which showed me I can fully trust my knee again. I know it was far from my perfect but there was a lot of positives and good learning moments I can take away. This is only the beginning and I know there’s still so much more to come.

This journey has taught me to never take things for granted, because you never know when the game you love most can be taken away from you. It taught me to play with a smile on my face because nothing is guaranteed. It taught me not to put so much pressure on myself, and to trust that progress doesn’t always look the way you expect it to. And most importantly, don’t compare yourself to others when they haven’t gone through what you have, everyone is different.

I’m so grateful for everyone who has put in the hard work and long hours to help me get to where I am now, and for believing in me along the way. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, I will always remember you guys.

588 days later, I’m not just returning as a footballer, I’m returning a better human.

10 months since my surgery, and nearly a full year since I tore my ACL

Here’s my next blog!!

A lot has changed since my last post. Not even a week later I was finally back training and passing with the team again. The pain was still there, and it was definitely uncomfortable, but I started to realise this might be my new normal for the next few months, or maybe something I’ll have to get used to forever.

It’s hard to believe it’s almost been 10 months since my surgery, and nearly a full year since I tore my ACL. And it’s even more crazy to think that I haven’t played a game of football in almost a whole year. For so long, football has basically been my whole personality and life. Honestly, I’d still say it is, but over the past year, I’ve added a lot of new things into my life that I didn’t have before, and now I realise how much I needed them.

Looking back on my rehab from where I am now, it feels like time has flown by. But in the moment, each month, and sometimes even each week, has felt incredibly slow. From my perspective, rehab has come with its fair share of complications. Whether it's my knee, hamstrings, or calves, something always seems to be acting up. I know that overall, my recovery has been pretty smooth, and I definitely don’t take that for granted. But it can still be frustrating when setbacks pop up, and I sometimes find myself getting annoyed with how things are unfolding.

Each day started to feel the same, with my gym sessions repeating over and over. I never realised just how drained and exhausted I would become. In those moments, it became really important for me to set small personal goals, something to remind myself that I was still making progress, even if it didn’t always feel or seem like it. Each session, my goal was simple, lift more than I did the week before. If I squatted 85kg last week, this week I’d go for 90kg, or at the very least, do more sets at 85kg. That mindset has been the biggest thing keeping me motivated doing gym. I’m not trying to compare myself to anyone else, I’m just trying to beat my own progress from the week before. I wouldn’t say I necessarily look bigger than I did before the injury, but I certainly feel a lot stronger and my test results back that up, and for me, that’s what really matters right now.

This update has taken a while because, honestly, the past few months have been pretty repetitive, just passing drills and a whole lot of running. But a few weeks ago, things finally shifted. I had my first training session with Qas, and I was cleared to do most of the drills being partial to non-contact. For the first time, my knee felt strong. I was dribbling, shooting, and starting to feel and look like myself again. After that first session back, I felt amazing. Usually, my knee would be achy and sore afterward, but this time was different. I was buzzing and begged my physio, Yanek, to let me keep going. Of course, he said no, and reminded me that even when things feel good, it’s important to stop once I’ve hit the set targets for that day. It’s about discipline and long-term progress, not just riding the highs of a good session, because that’s when things can change in an instant.

But as good as that week felt, the next one was a completely different story. I’m learning to understand that days and even weeks can swing from good to bad without warning. That following week, my knee felt weak. It might’ve been because I’d started a new gym program and my body was just adjusting, but I found myself hesitant, even nervous, to do basic movements like planting my foot in certain positions. Then came Thursday’s session, which was probably the strongest I’ve felt yet when sprinting. During drills, I wasn’t afraid to go into tackles, which felt like a big step forward. But the session ended with me hobbling off after jarring my knee in a shot I probably shouldn’t have taken. And because of this I had to sit out of the final drills and running. It’s crazy how quickly things can change. One small lapse in focus, or doing something I normally would, just under fatigue, can have a completely different outcome. It’s a reminder that I need to stay switched on, listen to my body, and be a bit more careful moving forward.

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced since being back on the ball has been getting used to my feet again. It feels like my brain is moving faster than my body can keep up, like I know exactly what I want to do, but my feet just aren’t reacting the way they used to. Simple movements that used to come naturally are now causing me to trip over the ball or get it stuck under my feet. It’s been so frustrating, especially over the past week, because everything else seems to be clicking into place, except this. It honestly feels like my feet are lagging behind, and at times, I feel like bambi trying to find its balance again.

But I know this is all part of it.

It’s about learning to trust my body again. It’s about being patient and learning to be okay with not being where I once was. It’s about learning to not beat myself up for every little mistake or awkward touch I take. It’s not easy but I’m trying to be a bit more kind to myself.

There are still a few months to go until I’m meant to be allowed to play again. I don’t know exactly when that time will come, but what I do know is that I’m the closest I have been. I’m starting to imagine myself running out onto the pitch again and it’s starting to feel real.

So yeah, it’s been almost a year without football. But in that year, I’ve grown in ways I never expected. And when I do finally step back on that pitch, I won’t just be playing for the sake of playing, I’ll be playing for everything I’ve been through to get back.

And honestly, I’m so excited!

Taking Steps Backwards to move Forwards.

Legs are nearly the same size again.

It’s been a few weeks since my last update, and if I’m being totally honest, things haven’t gone as smoothly as I hoped. After coming back from a week’s rest, I was hoping things would be the same and I would hit the ground running straight away. But instead, I found myself taking a few steps backwards and having to cut out my running for now. This was hard for me and frustrating to say the least. How can I be running fine one week and the next not at all. I know it hasn’t, but it feels like all the hard work and progress I made before has just disappeared and gone to waste.

For a while, I brushed off the constant pain I was getting in and around my knee. I thought it was just a normal part of recovery, something that would eventually pass overtime. But after six months the pain was still there, and I started to question it. After seeing my surgeon and physio, they decided it was best for me to get an MRI to see if anything was actually wrong. I was scared at first that I would potentially need surgery again if things weren’t right, this terrified me, I never want to relive those first 2 weeks ever again. I was devastated, but I stayed positive, reminding myself that I hadn’t even had the scan yet, and there was a good chance it might not be anything at all.

Turns out it was nothing, and I’m relieved of course but it doesn’t take away the frustration of not knowing what is causing the pain in the first place. I just wish I knew why it was hurting, if there was anything I could do to make it better or prevent it from happening in the future.

I think what hurts the most right now isn’t the actual pain in my knee, it’s the impact it is having on my training. I feel like I was just getting into the routine of being back on the field and getting used to running again. The past 3 or 4 weeks hasn’t necessarily been easy. For some reason one of the hardest things for me is relearning the mechanics of running, things I thought I did normally aren’t as good as I remember. Learning these techniques again has been challenging and I often find myself getting annoyed easily that my body won’t move the way it’s supposed to.

Tully with family

The other day was one of the first times me and Kijah have got separated in terms of rehab, it was her first time joining in on a passing drill with the team. Of course, I was extremely excited and happy for her, but a part of me was sad and annoyed with myself for not being able to do the same. Instead, I was stuck in a corner of the field, 1on1 with my S&C coach. I am grateful for the 1on1 time I get with him because I know what I’m learning will make me better, it just doesn’t feel like that right now. It just feels so lonely being the only one there, while everyone else is joining in. I remember there was a moment when he asked me if I was okay, and I wasn’t. I was upset, more than I’d liked to admit. Usually I keep these feelings inside, but in the moment, I decided to open up. We had a quick chat, and it really helped. He reminded me that everyone’s recovery is different, and I shouldn’t be comparing myself to anyone else, especially when the process looks different for everyone. The truth is, I’ve been on a similar rehab path as Kijah for the past six months. But now, we’re beginning to go our own ways, and that’s okay. I just need to learn to accept that.

Some good news is that the day after my MRI when I found out it was nothing, I was allowed to join in on some ball drills for the first time again. It wasn’t with the team, but it was still a step forwards. It felt good getting to be on the ball again and passing, it reminded me how happy football actually makes me and why I am doing all this in the first place.

---

Tully moving the way she is supposed to. :)

Right now, it’s hard to feel like I’ve made much progress over the past few weeks. I went from running every session to barely doing more than one field session a week. It’s frustrating, and some days it feels like I’m just going through the motions. I have to remind myself that this journey isn’t a sprint—it’s a marathon. Every day I’m closer to where I want to be, even if it doesn’t always feel like it. It’s just a matter of time and patience, and learning to accept the process, even when it feels like I’m not moving forward as fast as I’d like.

I’ve seen that this process is emotionally draining, there will be ups and downs that I will face. There have been and still will be moments where I feel like I’m never going to get back to where I was, or moments that will excite me even if it’s small. I’m learning that it’s okay to have bad days and its okay to feel frustrated, sad or unsure with my progress. The important thing is that I keep trying my hardest and showing up, this is what will determine how I bounce back.

Surgery went well- the countdown has started!

To begin with, I have gone back home to Cairns. While I’m incredibly grateful to be surrounded by the love and support of my family, adjusting to this new reality for the next few weeks has been challenging. It’s a strange feeling how two weeks can feel like an eternity. Every day just blends into the next, as if I’m trapped in this never-ending cycle. Wake up, eat, ice and move my knee, sleep, repeat. The boredom is suffocating, and time feels like it’s standing still, draining me entirely.

Every day brings a rollercoaster of emotions, mixing between hope and frustration. Despite the challenges, I've come to realise that this journey is not only just about physical healing. It's also about mental and emotional resilience. Tasks that once felt so simple – like walking, straightening or bending my knee, and even regaining feeling in the left side of my leg, now feel like significant milestones. It’s a harsh realisation to see something that once came naturally now a distant goal.

I find myself celebrating small victories, like putting my socks and shoes on for the first time post-surgery, but it’s a reminder of how far I still have to go. Healing is undeniably a gradual process, and patience has become a crucial part of my life now and for the journey ahead. Every small victory, every moment of progress, no matter how tiny, is a step forward. It's about celebrating these little milestones and keeping the bigger picture in mind.

In these moments of struggle and frustration, the presence of my family has been my greatest comfort. Their unwavering support and love have made this difficult journey a bit more bearable for the time being. Though the road ahead is still long, knowing that my family is just a phone call away and feeling surrounded by those who truly care for me gives me strength to stay positive. Even though it’s only been a few weeks, this experience has already taught me a lot about myself and the importance of gratitude. I am grateful for the things I once took for granted, like the simple ability to move without pain. I am grateful for the incredible support system I have around me. And most importantly, I am grateful for the strength I’ve found within myself to keep pushing forward, one step at a time.

“grateful for the things I once took for granted”

As I continue this journey, I know there will be good days and bad days. There will be moments of joy and moments of doubt. But with the love of those around me and a renewed sense of determination, I am ready to face whatever comes next. This is a reminder that healing is a multi-factored process. It's not just about mending the physical wounds but also about strengthening the mind and essence. Each day brings new challenges, but it also brings new opportunities for growth and self-discovery. Embracing the journey, with all its ups and downs, is essential to finding true healing and resilience.

This obstacle right now might feel like the end of the world, but looking back in a few years, it might have been the best thing that could have happened to me. It gives me the opportunity to work on the things I never had or were weaknesses of mine. If I stay positive, which I know I will but it will be hard, I'll come back from this fitter, faster and stronger.

In my next blog post, I'll share an overview provided by my physio detailing what the next 9-12 months of my rehab journey will look like.

Tully 1st Post

Hello, my name is Tully Heatley, I’m a 17 year old footballer from Queensland, Australia. I'm blown away by the incredible support I've received from everyone since my injury in June 2024. The generosity and kind words have truly lifted my spirits during this challenging time and I can't thank you all enough for everything done to help me get to this point. In just a short amount of time, many people close to me and even those that I have never met helped me raise the funds I need to undergo surgery on 25th July. I'm nervous, of course, but I'm also feeling hopeful. With the support behind me, I know I can overcome this obstacle and come back stronger than ever. My goal of representing Australia is still very much within reach, and I can't wait to keep you all updated on my progress through this blog as I embark on the long road to recovery. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for standing by my side. I'm truly blessed to have such an incredible support system. Tul

In June 2024 I was invited to trial with an A-League club for a professional contract. During the trial I suffered a serious injury to my left knee, rupturing my ACL and partially tearing my MCL. I need surgery which involves reconstructing my ACL and then 12 months rehabilitation before I will be able to play again.

Unfortunately, because the injury was sustained interstate, the costs of surgery and loss of income are not covered by insurance from my club registration. So I have created this page to try and help me get through the necessary surgery and my rehabilitation, and get back to playing football. The surgeon has told me it will take 12 months to make a full recovery.

This is a major blow at a crucial time at the beginning of my football career and my final year of school, and I will also suffer loss of my part-time income while I recover from surgery.

I have loved playing football since I was little. I have represented Cairns (Peninsula) region in U12 football and futsal State Championships in 2019 (awarded futsal player of the tournament) and U15 School State Championships in 2021 where I was selected in the U15 State team.

When I was 15 years old I moved from my home in Cairns, away from my family and friends, to live in Brisbane where I played for Queensland Academy of Sport. I attend Kelvin Grove State College where I am part of the football excellence program and I represented Metropolitan North region at the U19 School State Championships in 2022, where I was selected in the State team. I also represented Queensland at the U16 Youth Championships in 2022 and at the U18 National Training Challenge in 2023.

In 2023 I was selected in the Future Matildas program and was selected in the extended squad for U20 national team (Young Matildas).

This year I am completing year 12 and playing for Brisbane City FC. Last month I was named in the extended squad for the upcoming Young Matildas camp and I travelled to Sydney for a week of training as part of the Future Matilda’s program. Following that, later in June was when my injury occurred.

The year ahead will be the biggest challenge I have had to face, but I am confident I can come back from this injury stronger and achieve my goal to represent Australia. But I need help to get there. If you feel you would be able to help support me in this journey, I would very much appreciate it. It would also be appreciated if you could share this with someone to help spread the word.

Thank you in advance to everyone taking time to read this far, and also for any help offered!

Welcome to Tullys Blog

This blog is dedicated to all the female footballers out there. Stop, Listen and Learn to shared experiences of players, families & experts on the impact of Knee injuries. The Blog has been designed to ensure you have the best and most up to date understanding of the injury, its impact (holistically), treatments and rehabilitation.

Sharn Freier Story