The hype on Mia King had first evolved before the AFLW Kangaroo even debuted.
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King was picking up heaps of kicks just for kicks at East Launceston in the emerging regional youth league while leaving smart heads nodding.
Soon after AFL Tasmania female talent manager Leigh Elder quickly earmarked the student the year before North Melbourne-Tasmanian Kangaroos took to the ground.
But nothing could speak higher volumes about the top 18-year-old midfielder than playing a first game proper in nearly nine months straight away at the highest level.
"My debut was actually my first game since July last year off my knee injury," she said.
"It was awesome to just get out there, but it's still a step up especially from the TSLW.
"Just the intensity of it and how fast it goes is just unreal.
"It's still good to get the first game done and then you can start looking at where you can improve your game."
King had looked far from intimidated either during the Roos' 13-point win over Gold Coast Suns on Saturday.
The debut performance at Arden Street was filled with six kicks, five handballs, two marks and three tackles.
But running out she forgot not only any pregame jitters, but all the hype on selection.
"The most important thing was to just go out there and enjoy your footy," King said.
"Over the years, you have so many people saying stuff and all the media talk what you can do and all that.
"I find it's just about loving the game and I think everything from there kind of falls into place from that.
"Over the years so far, I have just learned to enjoy the footy and whatever happens, happens and I don't pay too much attention to that stuff."
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
Coach Scott Gowans had been speculating for weeks of throwing King into the deep end earlier than round four.
That started with naming the hometown favourite an emergency on the same day of Launceston's Abbey Green debuting at UTAS Stadium.
"I knew the opportunity was pretty close, but you just never do know when you are going to debut," she said.
King has just as much been inspired by TSLW teammates by her side in the AFLW.
Daria Bannister has been on the sidelines since the Roos' opener, but King has watched the 20-year-old fight back from a nasty injury.
"It's absolutely awesome having your local teammates in the Roos' team," King said.
"Daria has been smashing recovery off her collarbone."
While admitting the first game was "a bit of a blur", the rookie points to how Green turned things around fast.
"I saw the development that Abbey had from her first game to a second," she said.
"She looked comfortable on the ground kicking two goals against Richmond.
"I think even that one-game experience can help a lot."
The second game will be a return of sorts to Tasmania.
But while turning out at North Hobart sounds enticing, taking on reigning AFLW premier Adelaide and superstar Erin Phillips may not be.
"You have to control just what you can control," King said.
"Hopefully I'll feel a bit more comfortable getting the first game done because I know what it's kind of like."
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