Abby Wakely: Teen part of a new wave of Swans players

"It was a lot of fun," she said of the experience - her first AFL North West premiership match.

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The 16-year-old is part of a new wave of Swans who had not played the game prior to this year.

Last year her friend, then-Swans player Keely Jameson, had spruiked the benefits of playing for the club.

But at the time, Wakely was committed to Olympians Hockey Club.

"She tried so hard to get me into it [the Swans]," Wakely said.

"I left hockey this year and I thought I may as well give it a go."

Wakely, in year 11 at McCarthy Catholic College, made her AFL debut at the Crossroads Cup in Narrabri this month.

At a wet and cold No 1 Oval in Sunday, the Swans lost the season opener 7.7-49 to 3.3-21.

"I don't really know what I'm doing yet, but it is a lot of fun," Wakely said.

Her parents, Katrina and Luke, were at the ground on Saturday.

"Mum sits on the bench like a nervous wreck. But other than that, we're all good," Wakely said, before adding: "Dad used to play for the Roos, so he wasn't happy about me coming over to the Swans."

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