The dream a luckless Daria Bannister had two years in a row has instead come true for teammate Abbey Green in a fairytale AFLW debut.
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The 23-year-old ruck will run out in round 2 for North Melbourne-Tasmanian Kangaroos at UTAS Stadium against GWS Giants in front of hometown support.
Kangaroos coach Scott Gowans has also confirmed Launceston Blues' teenage teammate Mia King was on the cusp of selection as well.
"Abbey will definitely play and Mia will be an emergency," he told The Examiner.
Ellie Gavalas, from Hobart, will return for a second game while veteran Britt Gibson, from Burnie, rounds up the Tasmanians playing back in their home state on Saturday.
Gowans was rapt to share the experience with the one-time Queechy High student.
"It's so exciting for her and Abbey will love it," he said.
"She'll kill it too - she is a good sportsperson, she just needs this opportunity and we expect her to relish it."
Bannister again is forced to watch from the sidelines after undergoing shoulder surgery on Monday from a two-point loss to Melbourne.
Just last year on the same date, the 20-year-old was still going through rehabilitation from 12 months earlier when the Kangaroos ran over the top of the Western Bulldogs - the club that Bannister had ruptured an ACL joint while making her AFLW debut.
Shattered that Bannister has copped a second injury in only a fourth AFLW game, Gowans has turned to Green.
The fact that the rookie has collected more experiences on UTAS Stadium than any other AFLW player and once spearheaded the Blues to the 2017 TSLW premiership was factored into her inclusion.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
"That was a big consideration with Abbey, particularly as it's been predicted to be a few showers and she knows the conditions," he said.
"I just feel it doesn't count for a lot, but it counts for something and there could be a piece of advice about the wind when you're closer to the grandstand that swirls."
Gowans believed that the Launceston newcomers to the Kangaroos list have been welcomed additions with the Tasmanians at Arden Street.
Green was named a fifth-round selection at pick No. 79 last year while King went in the third round at pick 49.
"Obviously, they're different players; one's a ruck and one's a rover. They've settled in fantastically well," he said.
"Abbey will play a lot of footy for us, but last week we didn't select her because we have been pretty unlucky with our Tassie girls.
"Abbey had a little bit of a leg injury - she could have played, but I wasn't comfortable enough knowing she could get through the game
"That has been ticked off - she has put in two good weeks at training. Mia being such a young player just has to wait for an opportunity."
Chloe Haines has been out with an illness, but will play a half of the curtain-raiser.
Nicole Bresnehan injured her leg and is only two weeks into training whereas Emma Humphries had a minor setback on the eve of the season.
"They've all had nothing too serious, but just little niggles," Gowans said.
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Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
