Goalkeeper Casey Dumont’s determination has been fulfilled – overcoming a snapped Achilles, ACL tear, osteitis pubis and lacerated liver – sharing in the sweetest of wins.
Casey Dumont has reached that elusive light at the end of the tunnel. It was a long tunnel.
The Melbourne Victory keeper has had four genuine excuses to walk away from her sporting profession, but there’s no remaining doubt all those tough days were worth pushing through.
The 30-year-old played a starring role as goalkeeper of the Melbourne Victory, beating Sydney FC 2-1 to win the A-League Women Grand Final.
Some of the hurdles, four major ones, have ended countless sporting careers.
That was all to come for Dumont, being scouted by current Melbourne Victory coach Jeff Hopkins when he signed her at the Queensland Roar.
As a 16-year-old, Dumont became the first choice goalkeeper at the Roar and claimed the premiership-championship double in 2008-09, followed by another championship in 2010-11.
The following year was when the injury problems began, suffering from osteitis pubis – inflammation in her pelvis and hip that saw her take a break from football to focus on her studies.
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter returning to football, the star goalkeeper had a lacerated liver in 2013 and in the 2015 season, she tore her ACL as she again faced more time on the sidelines.
On the eve of the 2020-21 A-League Women season, Dumont snapped her Achilles tendon and was forced to miss the entire season and watch as her team Melbourne Victory claimed their first championship since 2013-14, leaving a bitter-sweet taste in her mouth.
“2012 was the big hip injury,” she recounted.
“2014 was the lacerated liver, 2015 was left ACL, 2020 was the Achilles.”
Despite all that, Dumont was determined to get back on the football field and take her place in goals.
“The first injury it took me a long time to come back from it mentally and physically and it was just knowing that I am good enough to be playing and enjoying that top level,” Dumont said.
“That was the biggest thing at the beginning. But now it’s purely just the desire and the love for it.”
Embed from Getty ImagesMelbourne Victory had a disrupted 2021-22 A-League Women season and lost their captain Kayla Morrison to an ACL tear in the first game.
Dumont’s club dealt with a bit of what Dumont’s overcome this season – injuries, mostly, but interruptions too. The Victory valiantly battled through, scraping into the finals in fourth spot.
Melbourne had to beat all the sides who finished above them and they did exactly that – Adelaide United, cross-town rivals Melbourne City and finally overcoming Sydney FC in the grand final.
Dumont’s inspirational performance between the sticks in the grand final saw her come away with the medal for player of the match, despite battling an illness throughout the game.
“I just wasn’t feeling well this week and they were monitoring me and making sure I was alright to play,” Dumont said post-game.
“I just started feeling light-headed again.
“When I came into the change-rooms (at halftime) they were just trying to get my blood pressure up and my sugars up and help me recover.”
Victory coach Jeff Hopkins was confident Dumont would overcome her illness and lead her team to victory.
“One thing you know about Casey as well is when the chips are down, in the big games, she’ll still perform,” Hopkins said.
“Against adversity – she got smashed there in the second half – but I wasn’t worried.
“I knew she’d get up and she’d go on, which is kind of what she does.”
