But the Melbourne-born star, who played more than 230 games for Australia, says a scary incident from the 2014 Women’s Hockey World Cup in The Hauge always reminds her that when it comes to concussion, it’s always safest to follow the advice of the AIS Concussion and Brain Health Position statement: “if in doubt, sit them out”.

She recalled: "I came out and did a slide tackle with a player. I got the ball, but the player kept going and kneed me in the head, making my helmet come off.”

Lynch said she continued to play the remainder of the game despite feeling the early signs of concussion.

"My role as a goalkeeper is to call out penalty corners - we have four words that we use to call the different variations."

"At halftime I remember coming off and having to ask the other goalkeeper what they were because I had completely forgotten."

In hindsight, Lynch, who is a Registered Nurse, admitted she should have known better and warned others about the dangers of not speaking up when experiencing any concussion symptoms.

"I know I should have flagged it with our physio and doctor, but I was caught up in the moment of the game and didn’t say anything."

"With any sport, people are so competitive, and I think the adrenalin of the moment can sometimes impair your willingness to raise issues."

"I think as an athlete, understanding the long-term effects that can come from what you might feel is an innocuous incident and reporting it to a professional is really important."

Lynch’s story is part of the free online resources available to support athletes, coaches, parents, teachers and officials with concussion in sport. To learn more and view the AIS Concussion and Brain Health Position statement, visit: www.concussioninsport.gov.au