“Second Wind”. A phrase Chantelle’s late mum lived by before tragically passing away from cancer, is always on Chantelle’s mind and influences every aspect of her life, including during her ACL recovery to make her comeback to Women’s National Premier League (WNPL) football.
Chantelle can be described as Salisbury Inter through and through, a club she has devoted herself to since 2018. Ryder initially moved to Adelaide from Queensland in 2015 after being picked up by Adelaide United Women’s in what was then known as the W-League before her career in emergency services took precedence. Chantelle made her move into the WNPL at Adelaide University SC under Tracey Jenkins, but Tracey’s departure to Salisbury Inter for the 2018 season was one of the factors in Chantelle trading colours. Simon Catanzaro’s appointment in 2021, someone she was familiar with due to his time as an Assistant Coach at Adelaide United Women’s, meant Chantelle was then in for the long haul.
Although Salisbury Inter were coming into the 2022 season off winning the treble in 2021, some off-season transfers, retirements and injuries throughout the season meant that the squad was severely depleted and performing above expectations in the latter rounds of the season proper. A natural centreback, Chantelle found herself up front for much of Inter’s season under Catanzaro, although Simon had caught glimpses of Chantelle in this position during an Adelaide United game against Perth in 2015.
It was during her time up front in Round 16 last year, 1-0 up after 5 minutes against the formidable Adelaide City and with the chance to go 2nd with finals just a sniff away, that Chantelle would sustain the biggest injury of her career:
I was running with the ball and was attacking, passed a through ball not that far outside the 18-yard box. After I’ve passed it, I stood on my right leg to change direction a little bit and felt a little pop in my knee. It didn’t feel that major at the time. I was like “oh, maybe I’ve done something to the outside of my knee”, but ACL definitely wasn’t on my radar. I went off after a couple of minutes, tried to get it strapped back up to go back on and my whole knee was just collapsing on me. Then I went off for the rest of the game, which was not very nice, we were 1-nil up, needed to win to go second for the season, then City came back and won. That wasn’t ideal. The following days it was still swollen and pretty sore so I went and saw the doctor and got an MRI. I was told basically as the MRI finished by the technician that took the MRI, she told me before I even saw the doctor, she said “you’ve done your ACL”. That’s how I found out.”
Chantelle’s dedication to the club and their journey meant her first thought post-injury was the team:
I am the worst player to sit on the sidelines, that was one of the first things that went through my head. I want to be a part of this, less so that the team needs me. Yes, we were depleted on the field, and I know that my experience being on the team is definitely of benefit, but it was just that I knew what the girls were about to go through, knowing that we would be going into finals. It was gut-wrenching knowing that I was going to miss out on that.”
Although it was Chantelle’s most significant injury of her career and her first ever surgery, she never once thought about calling it a day:
I’ve been playing for quite a long time, and I don’t think I would have the heart to finish my career like that. I’m still very invested in the game and playing and still enjoy it a lot. If anything, this has reignited my passion for the game and makes me want to play even more. It was never on the cards [to retire].
I’m obviously very cautious about the risk of re-injury and how that will affect working life more so. It’s always on the cards to come back, it’s more just how it fits in with everything and the timing of it.”
Chantelle has been working hard from the second her ACL surgery was complete, undergoing a rigorous rehabilitation program that means she has already returned to full training:
I’ve been seeing Josh at Mitise Performance Group since I moved to Adelaide 7 years ago. I’ve had a really good professional relationship with him and know that Josh is very passionate about what he does. I went straight to him and knew that he would be as invested as I was in my recovery. I’ve had full access to the gym 7-days a week with a program of how to progress through each stage of my rehab. I’ve been very well supported, and it’s put me in good stead up until now. There’s been lots of strength work to begin with, then progressing to more dynamic, plyometric things to work on those instable movements that are required for the game."
Josh Smith of Mitise Performance Group highlights the specific process he uses to get athletes back onto the park following such a significant injury, beyond what occurs in the gym:
A big philosophy for us is to help reduce the fear and anxiety around the injury and return to sport."
And return to the sport is exactly what Chantelle is doing. She is set for her 6th season at Salisbury Inter, under new head coach, Tony Scalzi; former Bob Telfar Player of the Year and Sergio Melta medal winner. Although not yet ready to go for round 1 next week, Chantelle is hoping to start getting some minutes in the legs in the reserves side by round 3 or 4. Chantelle’s outlook on the season extends upon this though, with her thoughts more long-term beyond that of 2023:
I’m really excited for the new season. A new coach always brings new ideas and new ways of playing and new players. We still have quite a young team, so I would hope that if we can look forward, even further past this season, there is potential for the future. I still think we’ll come in as underdogs to games and I don’t necessarily dislike that. Salisbury Inter, the history of the club, has always been that underdog mentality. We thrive on that; we use that to our advantage. I don’t think it’s a bad thing for people to think of us as that. We’ve got some really good potential and a really good team; it will just be how we gel and how things fall into place.”
Salisbury Inter face off against Tony Scalzi’s former side, Metro United WFC to cap off Round 1 on Saturday 11th March.
