Missing the Bulldogs' grand final win over the Swans last month, after being knocked out and suffering a spinal injury in a match, may result in Erin Skewes defying her family and playing again.
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And if that happens, Skewes has pledged her loyalty to the Bulldogs - even if her former club, the Kangaroos, resume playing next year after folding last season due to a lack of players.
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Skewes' family asked her to call time on her AFL career after she suffered the frightening incident in a match against the Saints in Moree last month and was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle. For a period, she lost the feeling in her left leg, but was released from hospital that same day.
But because it was her second concussion playing AFL and she had existing vertebrae scarring, she had initially decided to retire.
Now back at work at a Tamworth childcare centre, and inspired by the Bulldogs' grand final win, she is having second thoughts about quitting.
The 23-year-old said that when she passed on doctors' concerns to her family, "I think the decision was made for me: I wasn't allowed to play contact sport again."
She continued: "I sort of made the call that I wasn't going to [play again].
"But sitting on the sideline on grand final day, it sort of changed my mind a little bit - so I'll just have to wait and see."
Skewes said doctors had not told her to stop playing. "But they have said that I'm probably starting to push my limits."
If she does play on, she will "mostly likely stick with the Bulldogs".
"The girls have made it so welcoming over there."
