Flanagan opened up on Wednesday about a rollercoaster 12 months that included being convicted of drink driving and taking an indefinite break from hockey following a "breach of team protocols" in November.

The 25-year-old, who was regarded as Australian hockey's golden girl, says she is using mistakes of the past as a learning curve and motivation for her goal of helping the Hockeyroos win Olympic Games gold.

But the Canberra junior admits she was ready to quit the sport forever as she struggled to cope with the scrutiny and pressure after more than a decade in the system.

"I did think that was it [when I took a break in November], that I'd never play for Australia again," Flanagan told Fairfax Media.

"I wasn't happy. The last year has been incredibly difficult and I let myself and a few people down.

"Hockey was my life for almost 12 years and I was just tired. But now I feel like I've learned from those mistakes, I'm in a better head space and I really want to give it another crack.

"I didn't want to go out on anyone else's terms. I didn't want to look back and wonder 'what if', so this is the start of the next part of the journey."

Flanagan's Rio Olympic Games campaign last year was thrown into disarray when it emerged she had been charged for drink driving but kept it secret from Hockey Australia officials.

She lost her licence for 10 months and was fined $1000, but went to Rio as a Hockeyroos reserve and watched from the sidelines as her teammates crashed out of medal contention.

Flanagan earned her spot back in the team after Rio and was a star again until it was revealed she had breached team protocols and was taking a break to battle "ongoing health issues".

Flanagan did not want to dwell on the past or reveal details of her downfall, but said it is fuelling her desire to lift the Hockeyroos to the top of the world.

The former junior world player of the year hopes to win back a spot in the Hockeyroos squad by the end of the year with the aim of playing at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast next year.

She said time away from the spotlight, during which she worked in hospitality, helped her find a hockey-life balance and she is now focusing on a career at Fox Sports.

"I lost the drive. I always wanted to be the best, but all of a sudden every day was hard and I didn't have many 'up days'," Flanagan said.

"It was pretty obvious to me and everyone around me that I was struggling [mentally]. So having three months off with absolutely no hockey, that was the best thing for me.

"If I didn't think I could be one of the best in the world, I wouldn't be coming back. I've got a lot of self belief and I'm not afraid to say I want to win gold medals and be the best.

"I think everyone in the Hockeyroos should be aiming to be the best in the world and that's what's driving me.

"But I've also realised that hockey doesn't define me. I've wanted to play for Australia since I was eight or nine, but it's not the only thing in my life. I'm not ready to throw it in."

Flanagan will be based in Sydney and is training with the NSW Institute of Sport, but is also part of the ACT Academy of Sport program and will play for the Canberra Strikers in the Australian Hockey League in October.

She has only recently returned to training and broke her finger at her first session.

"In the past, I would have been so down after that. But now I feel like someone can throw a brick at me and it won't make a dent," Flanagan said.

She hopes that will be her launching bad to get back into the Hockeyroos squad with the view of targeting Commonwealth Games success.

Flanagan helped Australia win Commonwealth Games gold at her debut international tournament in 2010 and again in 2014.

She has played 166 games for the Hockeyroos and hopes to help lift Australia from its No. 4 ranking to No. 1.

"I've got to perform and if I don't make it, I'll be OK because I know I've given it a crack," Flanagan said.

"I know if I play well then I can be on that world stage again. It's up to me to show I belong there, I didn't want to just quit because of the things that happened last year.

"I don't want to end my career any time soon. I've got so many more goals I want to achieve and I think I've got the balance right, for now hockey is fitting around my life and work.

"A lot of people have helped me out in the last few years and playing again would be a bit of a thank you to show them I'm going in the right direction.

"It's not about looking back or making amends. It's about moving forward."