For Grace Maher, the quest to find balance between football and life’s demands has been an intricate battle. Driven by the pursuit of excellence on the pitch, it was difficult to maintain some semblance of a regular life at times whilst growing up. “Before, I chose to live my life by myself. I only wanted to focus on football.”

At just 15 years of age, Grace signed her first A-League contract with Canberra United. At the time, she was the youngest player to ever do so. That same year, she started in the grand final, which the team won. It’s an experience she describes as surreal. Expectation naturally followed the talented midfielder. 

However, as a teenager, juggling school, A-League and Young Matildas duties eventually came to a head. “When you’re getting promised all these things and being put on this pathway, and then the trajectory changes, you end up not wanting to be there.” To further complicate things, compartment syndrome in her calves in 2018 stopped her playing at more than 80% of her regular capacity because the pain was so intense. “I was embarrassed to watch myself play. I stopped watching my footage because I didn’t want to see it.”

After undergoing surgery, it might’ve appeared from the outside that she was recovering from a physical injury, but in reality the battle was inside her head. “I was broken.” Grace speaks candidly about falling out of love with the game. She found that her desperation to reach the lofty goals expected of her - both internally and externally - held her back. On reflection, while she still aspires to play for the Matildas, it’s her approach that has changed. “The difference is I want it, I don’t need it. I also realise I’m going to be very happy regardless. That’s a really nice point to be at.”

This season, Grace has traded shades of green, moving from Canberra to Melbourne to play for Western United. This is her second stint in the Victorian capital, but this time she feels more independent. Living in her own place - last time she stayed with family - has added financial pressure that she acknowledges she’s privileged enough not to have felt previously. “How have these women been doing it for so long?” she ponders aloud. 

At Western, Grace has joined a team that she describes as a family. “I went to training one and everyone knows the habits and I’m learning from them. That’s how it should be.” She’s embracing being the newcomer in such a tight-knit group, and is already thriving in a changed environment. “It’s my workplace, but I can switch off. I just go get it done and go live my life.” Her newfound ability to compartmentalise has brought her more enjoyment both in football and life.

It’s easy to forget that Grace is still only 24 years old, such is her maturity in reflecting on her journey so far. It becomes clear through the course of our conversation that football will always play a role in her life. “If I had a dollar for every time someone said I should be a coach… I want to - club teams, national teams, but I’m not going to do it too early.” 

For now, helping shape younger footballers is her focus, having relished an opportunity to coach at that level recently. “There’s a lot more impact I can have there, for now.” When she does decide to move across to coaching from playing, Grace will certainly inspire. There’s no doubt she will use her experiences - both the good and the bad - to inform her style. “One thing I learned is how I feel about myself will never be dictated by a coach.”

Never one to dream small, Grace spends much of her time watching top coaches across the world. She watches their press conferences to gain insights about their philosophies, such is her desire to learn. Grace tells me that Pep Guardiola is at the top of her list. “He made me realise as a coach and a player you have to have a belief of why you want to play and it was so much bigger than the result. That’s how I am as a player. I get very embarrassed if we play bad football and we lose.” 

As we talk, Grace’s dog, Mila, plays at our feet. “I need her here,” Grace laughs, as she tells me her partner was devastated to lose his furry friend to her interstate move. The pair are in separate cities for now, but she jokes about meeting at the border to facilitate a swap. “I never used to have any strings attached. My decision making has become so much more complex.”

Over time, priorities may have shifted but Grace’s passion for the game remains true. “It’s a privilege that I have the ability to do things that a lot of people don’t.” Whether it’s volunteering at her local club, coaching the younger generation, or taking to the pitch herself, Grace Maher simply wants to give back to the sport that’s given so much to her already. 

Photos and words by Rachel Bach