From concussion and heartbreak to a milestone match, Giants skipper Rebecca Beeson's journey has been one of resilience. (ABC News: Daniel Irvine)
There were days Rebecca Beeson could not walk straight, could not watch TV and could not imagine life on the footy field.
Her dream, at that point, was not AFLW glory or a milestone match; it was getting back to feeling normal.
Now, after a journey that has tested her in ways football never could, Beeson is set to run out for her 75th AFLW match as team captain.
The Giants midfielder is the last inaugural GWS player from the first AFLW season in 2017 (AAP: Dan Himbrechts)
From three concussions to a season on the sidelines, the 29-year-old said the experience made her the person she is today.
The GWS captain was just a few weeks away from the start of the 2022 season when she suffered a severe head knock in a practice match against Sydney.
"I didn't immediately know [what had happened]. I knew something wasn't quite right and I needed some time away from the game," Beeson told ABC Sport.
The club doctor and Beeson had a mutual decision to work on her health and to take the seventh AFLW season off.
Amid the uncertainty, the young midfielder was also dealing with her father's sudden death.
"It was one of the most challenging times in my life," she said.
"Initially I was struggling with some delayed concussion symptoms over a number of weeks. I had headaches. I couldn't go for a walk outside because the Sun would make me sick. I couldn't look at my phone.
"I spent a lot of time at home staring at the wall."
Rebecca Beeson suffered two concussions in the 2021 season, then a severe head knock the next year had her sidelined for 12 months. (Getty Images/AFL Photos: Dylan Burns)
During her 12-month rehabilitation, Beeson watched her team from the sidelines.
