Sydney Swans draftee Amelia Martin still can't quite believe she gets to train alongside her idol Chloe Molloy.
The 18-year-old joined Sydney with pick 56 in the 2024 AFLW draft and commenced her first pre-season earlier this week.
Martin has spent the last couple of years watching Molloy from the sidelines, but this year will call the Swans star her teammate.
"Growing up, I definitely idolised Chloe Molloy as well as a couple of other girls," she said.
"I was looking back at photos and I have a photo with her from the game and it's pretty cool to be playing with her now.
"It's pretty surreal to be playing with these people who I watched on TV, it's such an honour, honestly."
Martin spent time in the QBE Sydney Swans Academy and produced a consistent top-age season representing the Swans at Coates Talent League Girls level.
The forward said spending time in the Swans Academy had set her up well for life as an AFLW athlete.
"I'm settling in as a Swan really well, I think I'm really enjoying the program and just being at the club almost every day," Martin said.
"Transitioning from the Academy into AFLW has been pretty smooth, it's definitely a step up in the work, the amount we do and the professionalism, but it's been really easy to transition.
"The Academy gave me really good background knowledge, I feel like our trainings are structured quite similarly, even gym work, a lot of it is similar, so I've been able to come in and not feel behind at all."
Martin hails from Woolongong and credits her new teammates for making her feel at home at her new club.
"A lot of the girls have been really great at taking me and the other younger players under their wing," Martin said.
"I feel like the Hamiltons (Lexi and Cynthia) are really good around training, Sarah Steele-Park, even though she's also new, she's been amazing.
"And then other girls like Lara (Hausegger) and Tanya Kennedy have been great, driving me to training."
The countdown to the 2025 NAB AFLW is on, with the 2025 fixture set to be announced soon ahead of the season starting in August.
AFLW memberships are available here.
