Rebecca Beeson details how she overcame concussion issues to reach 50 AFLW games

Last year, Rebecca Beeson could barely leave the house without feeling ill following three serious concussions. She reveals how she overcame those issues to return to the game she loves.

Rebecca Beeson will play her 50th AFLW game this weekend, a milestone she thought might never come. Picture: Phil Hillyard

This time last year, the Giants’ Rebecca Beeson wasn’t even thinking about football.

Following three concussions in a short period during 2022, concern about getting back onto the footy field quickly turned into anxiety about day-to-day life.

“There was a time where I was unsure whether I would get to play footy again,” Beeson said.

“I was symptomatic for quite some time following the most recent (concussion). It was a struggle because I faced a situation where this game, the thing I love and identify with, could be taken away from me.

“I couldn’t run for a few months. I had to build up my walking tolerance again. There were days where I could barely leave the house because I’d walk outside and I’d feel sick from the sunlight and the glare.

“For weeks and then months, I lost my quality of life. I’m fortunate to be healthy now, but when you’re in that state, it’s not even about football, it’s just about returning to feeling normal again.”

The severity of her concussions left Beeson questioning whether she would ever get back on the footy field. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

She left no stone unturned in an attempt to overcome the symptoms. Beeson took time off work to help her recovery and it would be easier to list the medical professionals she didn’t consult.

But at the back of Beeson’s mind, playing in the AFLW with her teammates again was the true motivator to get her through this tough time.

“It wasn’t just a simple decision of, ‘Okay, I feel okay now, maybe I can return’,” she said. “I’ve flown around the country to see people I needed to see to make this happen again.

“It‘s been a long journey. As soon as I got the all-clear from the professional side, it was full-blown, ‘I’m going to do this, I’m going to make it back’.

“I just love ‘footy’. It’s what I’m drawn to and it’s the thing I love.”

It’s why this weekend is such a significant milestone for Beeson. When the Giants take on Port Adelaide on Saturday, the 26-year-old will bring up her 50th AFLW game and will have played all bar one match this season, which she missed through suspension.

Beeson has grown into the season as one of the Giants’ most consistent performers yet again. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

And while she’s still coming to terms with the mental battle of playing footy again, her confidence has built to a level where she’s no longer nervous going into the contest.

“Return to contact was the biggest part of the rehab process,” Beeson said. “I had no idea how I could take a hit again or if I could be tackled, the idea of that was really scary.

“There‘s still part of me that if I get a big hit, I take a couple of seconds to scan myself and be like, ‘Am I fine? Okay, I’m fine, I can keep going’, which I would never have done previously.

“To come back and to be fit and healthy coming into round 10 is a huge step forward. Hopefully, I get through this weekend and can reflect on how far I’ve come in the space of 12 to 18 months.”

While it hasn’t been a successful year for the Giants, it’s a testament to Beeson’s determination that not only is she back playing, but she has put together one of the best seasons of her career.

Beeson was in the thick of the celebrations during her return in round one against the Swans. Picture: Phil Hillyard

She’s never been one to go over the top with her celebrations, except for her first goal back in the AFLW – “I celebrated that one really hard, it was a massive release of emotion,” she said – but this year has convinced Beeson that she’s got a lot more footy ahead of her.

“I didn’t have confidence for a long time,” she said. “I was facing early retirement and having to leave footy behind.

“I wouldn’t wish the concussions happened. But I’d like to think I’m a much more grateful person and a better teammate as well.

“Hopefully we can get a big win on the weekend to end our season … and I can celebrate with the girls in the team.”