FREMANTLE stalwart Ebony Antonio has opened up about a heart scare which she believed would threaten her playing future.

The dynamic winger made her AFLW return on Saturday against Sydney, having sat out the majority of the season with a PCL injury.

Antonio, playing her 50th game, was quite emotional in her post-match broadcast interview, revealing her knee injury wasn't the only issue she's been dealing with in recent months.

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Ebony's long-awaited return marked in typically stunning style

Ebony Antonio slots this brilliant goal in her comeback to footy to give the Dockers their first major of the afternoon

"I've had a bit of a heart issue we've been able to sort out," Antonio said.

"There was probably a time (when reality hit) – the girls were running out for training and I was in the changerooms, in the shower for about 20 minutes bawling my eyes out thinking my career was done.

"So, to overcome that, have all the tests – and a little procedure – and be given the green light about four weeks ago and then be able to be really careful with my rehab and tick all the boxes along the way, it was really important for me to play a game this season."

The 30-year-old delved into the fears surrounding the issue.

"Initially when I first went through the tests, there were real big question marks about what it kind of meant for me," Antonio told fremantlefc.com.au.

"There were talks about pacemakers and medications. At times we didn't know what the ECGs (electrocardio graphs) were reading.

"It was a roller coaster of emotions, but I'm just so glad I had that network around me – my wife (and teammate) Kara, the Fremantle girls, my family, club medical staff, Dr Tane my cardiologist.

"It was probably a blessing in disguise I hurt my knee, I was able to get all the tests I needed and get this sorted to make sure I am right to continue my career."