Tamworth Swans vice-captain Lauren Lamrock excited for AFL North West kick-off

But women's AFL was barely a blimp on the radar then and it would be around another 15 years before she picked up a Sherrin again; joining the Tamworth Swans women's side for their maiden flight last season.

Lamrock had returned to Tamworth after six years away just over 12 months before to work as a social worker at the hospital. When a work colleague said she was going along to Swans' training, and invited her along, it triggered memories of the fun she had at the come-and-try day she had attended in Year 5.

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"When someone asked me along to training I was like 'yeah I remember thinking it was great'," she said.

"So I went along and absolutely loved it."

Twelve months on and she is well and truly hooked, and set to play a prominent role in the Swans campaign after being named vice-captain.

"I wasn't expecting it, but felt very flattered," the centre-back said.

Her main role will to be support skipper Daisy George, but she is also conscious of ensuring the environment is a supportive one.

"I think what is really important for women's sport is that we're supporting each other, working hard at making it a really positive sphere and just enjoying having a crack," Lamrock said.

She spoke about that feeling of community being one of the things that drew her in last year. It was all new for them and there was a real sense of embarking on an exciting adventure together.

"I had never really played any sport that had that shaped ball, kicking, catching, being tackled - all of that was new skills," Lamrock said.

But that was part of the fun of it too, and she believes that being in the same boat helped them forge the strong bonds that became one of their biggest strengths.

"All of us were learning something new, and all of us were just there to give it a bit of a crack and have a run around," she said.

"I think that did make us a bit closer."

She said coming back after six years away it was a great way to "meet a whole group of new women" and remarked on how different the landscape is as far as women's sport.

Growing up she played netball and a bit of soccer with a school side, but that was about all that was on offer, and in the case of soccer, even though her side was predominantly female, they played in a men's competition.

"It's just a completely different sphere to now," she said.

"I'm in my mid-20s and so 10 years down the track to actually have a women's comp of AFL is just so exciting."

Now with the season kick-off within sight - the Swans will play the Gunnedah Bulldogs on Saturday - Lamrock is itching to get out there again.

"I've kind of got the pre-season jitters, I'm so excited," she said.

"And I'm just really glad that we're able to play this year."

She admits she didn't think the season was "going to kick up again" when the COVID pandemic brought it to a halt.