For most footballers, moving to a new club can provide re-invigoration to their career and that is exactly what happened to teenager Grace Egan last September.
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After spending two years with Richmond Football Club's VFLW outfit and missing out on selection at the 2018 AFLW draft, the Shepparton product finally landed a spot on an AFLW list at last year's draft.
However, Egan would not end up wearing the famous yellow and black colours in promotional photos.
Instead, the 19-year-old was draped in navy blue after Carlton Football Club selected her with pick 13 in the AFLW Academy bidding process.
And after a brief period of getting adjusted to the new change of scenery, the Shepparton Bears export said her focus turned to relishing the daunting challenge.
“At the start it was pretty hard, I would have loved to have stayed at Richmond where I started in the VFLW,” Egan said.
“But I quickly saw it (changing clubs) as a chance to start fresh and to test myself in a new environment; and I've loved every moment since, the club and people have been amazing.”
Last year in the VFLW, Egan cemented her spot in the Tigers’ midfield stock with her strong in-and-under work around the contest and caught the eyes of many in her 12 matches.
Once the change to Carlton was locked in, Egan got stuck into pre-season training with the rest of the draftees.
At the end of her first pre-season, the tough midfielder highlighted the differences between the VFLW and the premier competition.
“Maybe the training load, I've pulled up sore on a number of occasions,” she said with a laugh.
“Everything is flat stick at 100 per cent for longer periods.
“But also, I couldn't believe how much we get looked after by the club,” she said.
“Whether it's your diet or your health, the club helps you out in every possible way.”
During those gruelling summer days, Egan revealed that she found solidarity with her fellow teammates, who she said had helped her settle into life at the Blues.
“It has been a collective group really, all the girls take you under the wing,” she said.
“But if I had to pick, our co-captain Katie (Loynes) has been super-supportive right from the get-go and has mentored me a little.”
In recent weeks, Carlton and Egan have been busy preparing for the fourth edition of the AFLW, with Egan earning praise for her performance after the Blues’ pre-season hit-out against North Melbourne on January 25.
The teenager played against North Melbourne's star talent Emma Kearney and looked right at home alongside the Blues’ midfield brigade.
Carlton has shifted focus to tonight's AFLW season opener at Ikon Park, where the Blues will kick-start their campaign against one of the four new teams and Egan's former club, Richmond.
And although Egan is waiting to find out whether she will make her AFLW debut against her old club, the signs are strong that she is ready to feature in Carlton's upcoming season.
“It is a bit of mixed emotions really,” Egan said.
“I'm not nervous or anything like that yet, footy has always been my outlet.
“But knowing I am going to be involved in the first game of the new season, with a big crowd and against the Tigers is pretty special.
“It doesn't matter if I play or don't, it's going to be awesome to be involved on the night.”
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