AASTA O'Connor's football journey is about to come full circle.

O'Connor tore the ACL in her right knee playing for the Western Bulldogs in an AFL exhibition match against Melbourne in August, 2015.

She was devastated, her frustration magnified by the knowledge the AFL was planning to set up a national women's competition.

O'Connor endured a long and frustrating rehabilitation period.

Initially, she thought she would be back playing within 10 months, in time for the Darebin Falcons' VFL Women's 2016 finals run.

But O'Connor was forced to reassess those plans when she suffered a setback, rupturing a fluid-filled cyst behind her knee.

Although a common occurrence for those recovering from ACL injuries, the so-called baker's cyst rupture happened in unusual circumstances: while she was on a massage table having her knee treated.

"As a result, I was forced to have three months without running," she said.

"It was really hard to take at the time because I was so close to returning. Everything was going swimmingly. The physios and surgeon were happy and it looked like I was going to get back.

"I actually thought I'd done my ACL again. I woke up the next morning and there was that much fluid around my knee and down into my ankle.

"I was so relieved when the scan results came back because a baker's cyst rupture is relatively minor in the grand scheme of things."

O'Connor's disappointment at missing what turned out to be another Darebin premiership campaign was tempered when the Bulldogs selected the experienced ruck/key position player with the No.12 pick in October's AFL Women's Draft.

Now, the 29-year-old is setting her sights on making her comeback in the Bulldogs' opening NAB AFL Women's competition clash, against Fremantle at Whitten Oval on February 4. It would be her first match in 18 months.

"That's the way the world works. I did my ACL in a Bulldogs jumper and I'll make my return in a Bulldogs jumper," O'Connor said.

"It's a nice little bit of symmetry. I'm a pretty superstitious person, so I think that has some meaning."

The 181cm O'Connor, known for her physical and aggressive approach to the game, is back in full training, having taken part only in selected contact drills before Christmas.

Bulldogs coach Paul Groves said O'Connor's impact had certainly been noted.

"We've got a number of young girls who need some direction every now and then, and Aasta's leadership is really important for the group," Groves said.

O'Connor grew up in Queensland and has been playing football since she was 10. She started as a junior with the North Shore Jets, moving to Victoria in 2010 to pursue her footy.

A five-time All-Australian, three-time Darebin premiership player and Queensland and Victorian representative, O'Connor works alongside head of female football Josh Vanderloo in the AFL's game development department.

She has had a role setting up the AFLW competition and is also helping set up a talent academy for the best under-18 females in the country. The academy will help prepare players before they're drafted.

"Strong foundations are being put in place for this competition and I have every faith the players' welfare and wellbeing are front of mind. That's what I've tried to bring to conversations," O'Connor said.

"The AFL's role is to support and provide a platform for women and girls to play. This is a new frontier that will change the positioning of women's sport throughout Australia.

"I'm so grateful I get to be part of it and witness this revolution."