Fire player Isobel Dalton makes W-League Debut

Fire player Isobel Dalton makes W-League Debut

Image: Isobel Dalton with Ayesha Norrie in their Roar playing strip before the game on Saturday.

A seven month recovery from injury has ended in success for former Fire player Izzy Dalton, who made her Westfield W-League début with the Brisbane Roar on Saturday, November 8.

The centre midfielder came off the bench for the Roar against Adelaide United, aiding the team to a resounding 3-0 win at Suncorp Stadium.

Dalton completed year 12 last year and worked with both the Fire and the Roar to keep up her training. After three years training with the Roar and QAS and working with Coach Dave Bensted at the Fire last season, Dalton said she was focused and confident about taking to the field on Saturday.

However the road to her W-League debut wasn’t easy; while playing for the Fire in the South-East Women’s Premier League competition last April, a heavy tackle from an opposition player resulted in Dalton rupturing her ankle ligament.

Dalton was advised to have surgery, but being just 16 at the time she opted to take a more conservative, albeit longer, recovery option and wear a moonboot for several months before undergoing physiotherapy.

Dalton’s father, Iain, said it had been a long journey for Izzy to get back to full fitness.

“She has battled so hard to keep motivated and worked at physio and the gym before returning to full contact training just three weeks ago,” he said.

“Playing and training full time with the coaches and players of that level has been amazing for Izzy – for example training with Matildas Co-Captain Clare Polkinghorne every night.”

Dalton’s Roar W-League debut was her first competitive game in seven months, and one she will certainly never forget.

“I was told on the Saturday morning of the game that I would be on the bench, and I was confident I could do a good job if I was given the chance to come off the bench,” she said.

As for the season ahead, Dalton has plenty of options with the Roar and the Under 20 Australian Squad and an offer of a scholarship in the USA now that she is back to full fitness.

Fire Open Women’s Team Coach Dave Bensted said Izzy’s W-League debut was a testament to the effort she had put in with both the Fire and the Roar.

“Izzy has good football intelligence and a strong work ethic. She has worked hard to overcome injury and return to fitness to achieve her goals. We at the Fire wish her all the best for the future,” he said.

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