Inside Kyah Simon’s agonising 438-day stint on the sideline with an ACL injury

Kyah Simon is back – it’s a phrase the star forward doubted would be said many times during the lengthy rehab that left her broken.

It was the comeback that almost didn’t happen – with the excruciating pain and strenuous rehab leaving Kyah Simon questioning what the point was more than once during her 438-day stint on the sidelines.

The physical and mental toll was so great that when Simon was given the all clear to play for the first time since rupturing her ACL in October 2022 she wasn’t filled with excitement.

She was stressed to the max, counting down every second of the 17-minute stint – just wanting it to be over.

It wasn’t because she didn’t want to be out on the field with the revamped Central Coast Mariners for the first time or that she had lost her love of football during her horror rehab.

Simon just wanted to get off the field in one piece.

“It was overly overwhelming,” Simon said.

“I just wanted to get through it, there was so much emotion and stress and so much weighing on me just getting on the park and walking off unscathed.

“That was my personal goal, knowing what it took and what I had to go through to get myself to that point.”

Kyah Simon is back on the pitch for the Mariners. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

Her first game back, almost three weeks ago, like most of Simon’s extensive rehab, it had been meticulously planned, she knew exactly when coach Emily Husband would be putting her on the field.

“It wasn’t a shock,” Simon said.

“I knew how many minutes I would play but I would say I was a bit more uptight and a little bit quieter in myself leading into the game.

“I had loads of stress and emotion built up, I didn’t actually realise until I felt the relief after that game.”

The second match back was better. She played 25 minutes and just missed scoring two goals.

“I’m just super, super happy to be back playing again and knowing that going through it all was worth it and just proving to myself that I could pull myself out the other side,” Simon said.

“It wasn’t all pointless, I didn’t get to the end for nothing.”

THE REHAB

Simon knew instantly she had done her ACL, she had done the other knee back in 2013. This one was much worse though, the swelling so bad she had to wait a month for surgery.

“It wasn’t just a stock standard ACL, it was what they call the terrible triad,” Simon said.

“I did all the three major structures in my knee.”

The whole journey was “super challenging” physically and mentally.

“The first three or four months I barely slept because I was just in so much pain,” Simon said.

“I was on heavy painkillers for the majority of the first couple of months. When I got out of surgery the surgeon said I was basically allowed to be up on my feet for five minutes every hour for the first two weeks.

“Because I was sitting for so long I actually lost all the cushioning, muscle and fat in my bum. I had bone bruising on my sit bone – so whether I was laying or sitting I was in agony, it made sleeping quite miserable.

“Once I got off the crutches it was a matter of teaching yourself how to walk again and having a little bit more independence, like being able to carry things around.

“They are the small things in a big rehab that you forget about, like just being able to walk.

“All the little stages and challenges throughout have their own difficulties at each point.”

Every time Simon thought she was making headway she struck another hurdle. She tore her calf muscle four times during her rehab – one happening right at the start of the World Cup – for which she had been named in the 23-woman squad but didn’t get a chance to play.

Simon said she lost count of the number of times the rehab broke her – physically and mentally.

“There were several points throughout the rehab where I wanted to throw in the towel and be done with it … it makes me emotional,” Simon said through tears.

Simon persevered, the lure of pulling on her beloved Matildas jersey once more a huge motivator during her times of doubt.

While not yet back to her top form Simon said mentally she was in a good place.

“I think (the rehab) makes me a better person more than anything,” she said.

“Just knowing the resilience and determination and the thick skin that you have to have in our profession as a footballer and dealing with everything that comes along with that.

“Whether it is pressure, setbacks, challenging times, whatever it is, I think ultimately it’s probably formed me into the person that I am today.

“Knowing that I’ve come back from setbacks in the past and tough times has given me another level of mental toughness. And the ability to know who I am just as Kyah the footballer but as Kyah the person.

“It’s invaluable, the morals and values I’ve been able to learn through my career and from having those challenging times and setbacks.”

Simon is back in the A-Leagues alongside her partner Faye Bryson. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

THE COMEBACK

Having been let go by Tottenham in the lead up to the World Cup – Simon rejoined the A-Leagues, signing with Central Coast Mariners alongside her partner Faye Bryson.

It took weeks though for Simon to be match fit – making her first appearance off the bench in 15 months in the Mariners 2-0 win over the Jets almost three weeks ago.

Having spent so long on the sidelines Simon had almost forgotten her game day routine.

“I obviously experienced game days previously whether that be with the Matildas at the World Cup or Mariners games but in the weeks prior to (my first game back) I made a conscious effort to get to the grounds at the same time as the girls playing for each of those games to just get my head around timings again and get myself in that rhythm and routine again, even though I wasn’t kitting up.

“I just had to mentally prepare myself with how things flow on a game day.

“It helped me prepare for my first game back as I’d already been there and gone through those processes rather than it feeling super foreign along with the stress and emotion and build up of that first game.”

With the much anticipated return complete Simon said her focus has switched to playing.

“It’s just about getting back on the pitch and being back playing football,” Simon said.

“Someone said to me that the first game is just getting through it and getting through the minutes.

“The next stage is working on how I can be more involved and get myself in some more involvement or more dangerous positions on the field – it is all about progression really.

“It’s one thing to play the minutes and then another to be effective in the minutes that I play.

“As weeks go by it will be nice to get to the point where I’m playing 90 (minutes) week in and week out and feeling like I’m flying and playing like my old self.

“It will take time, it could take a couple of months. But that is the next stage, getting some good form and playing with a massive amount of confidence, not just in my body but also in my ability.”

Simon is looking forward to being back at full fitness. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

RACE TO FINALS

Simon’s return has come at the perfect time for the Mariners who are in a tight race to a spot in the A-Leagues’ women’s top six and finals football.

Mariners are sitting sixth – but with just five points separating teams placed fourth to tenth – every game matters.

They play fourth-placed Melbourne Victory this weekend – who are just one point ahead – a win could see Mariners jump to fourth, depending on other team results.

“The league has been so exciting this season,” Simon said.

“Every week you don’t know who’s going to get on top of who, which makes for a really nice competitive league.

“Victory are super competitive and they’re a great footballing team.

“We’re definitely competing from a physical standpoint and dominating parts of games, it’s just those small little on percenters in and around the box where we just need to be a little bit more clinical.

“If we come out with the same energy and fight that we have all season, especially in the last few weeks, I have confidence we can get the job done, especially with it being a home game.”

The match will be Simon’s first home match of the season and after watching the surging crowd numbers she is looking forward to it.

“The Coast fans are amazing. We hear them every week. I’m really looking forward to playing in front of the home fans.”

The motivation to put a Matildas jersey back on was important for Simon. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

THE FUTURE

Simon’s focus is on the Mariners and hopefully a chance to play finals football – but the Matildas are always floating around in the back of her mind.

While she is back playing, which is more than she was doing when she was named in the Matildas World Cup squad, Simon knew she wasn’t going to get a call up for the Olympic Qualifiers at the end of the month.

“I need to at least be playing consistent minutes and I’ve only just come back so I think it’d be a little bit unrealistic to expect to be selected in this camp,” Simon said.

The striker said she wouldn’t rule herself into the equation until she was playing consistent 90 minute matches.

“It’s always in the back of my mind. I’ve never wanted to think too far down the track. I think knowing the road that I’ve had to come on to even just get myself back on the pitch.

“I’m not trying to add any extra stress or pressure on myself. I have full confidence in my ability and the footballer that I am. It’s just a matter of getting my body right.

“However long that takes I’m just being patient with myself and not having too high demands of myself. When the time comes that I’m fit, firing and in good form, hopefully a Matildas call up follows shortly after.”

The inclusion of Michelle Heyman in the squad bound for Uzbekistan reiterated to Simon that second chances exist.

Heyman, had been out of the squad for five years – with her impressive form in the A-Leagues catching Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson’s eyes and earning her a call up.

“She’s obviously been out of the team for the last few years and hasn’t had much of a chance back in the Matildas,” Simon said.

“But to see her back in the squad is really pleasing and she’s been killing it in the A-Leagues and definitely burying some goals so hopefully she can continue that in the green and gold jersey.”

Originally published as Inside Kyah Simon’s agonising 438-day stint on the sideline with an ACL injury