The Darren Crocker-driven coaching regime has instilled further confidence in boom re-signing Mia King.
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The Launceston onballer is contracted for the next two years with North Melbourne Tasmania Kangaroos.
The deal even extends to relocating from her family's East Launceston home so to train with the main playing group at Arden Street after a strong AFLW rookie season.
"I'm just really excited to be signing with them again - I think they're a great club. I just feel so supportive by all their staff," King said.
"I will be moving over to Melbourne after training in Tassie last year was hard with such small numbers.
"So I'm excited to be with the big group and with new coach, Darren Crocker, it's going to be a good year."
King, who was spotted by AFL Tasmania talent scout Leigh Elder single-handedly dominating her NTJFA girls' matches, did not consider or look at any other offers from rival AFLW clubs.
This comes after outgoing coach Scott Gowans led the Kangaroos to the third and second-best winning records before being forced to accept redundancy amid a range of job cuts from the pandemic that has Crocker balancing dual club mentoring roles.
"North had always been the only team I was looking at in the early stages because they've helped me through my development," King said.
King played four games at the tailend of the season until the AFLW was curtailed ahead of their semi-finals.
The early signs indicated that the 19-year-old was on the verge of pushing from a fringe player into a core midfielder after just one year.
The 2017 TSLW premiership talent, winning aged at just 16, was playing down the incremental improvement.
"It's hard to say at this point just because we're probably going to have a strong team again, but I think just focusing on my preseason, focusing on my own skills and that development will just help me keep improving my own game," King said.
"Having one season up my sleeve, I definitely feel more comfortable now playing at that level. We'll just have to wait and see, but I am really excited just to get to training."
A recent chat with Crocker on the eve of a new contract stirred up the excitement.
The pair had never crossed paths at the Roos previously.
But King was sold on what the former 165-game player can bring to the teen's game.
"In Tassie last year, I didn't see a whole lot of him, but we had a Zoom [meeting] just the other day and he is just awesome to talk to," she said.
"I think he's going to be great for the team. He was a great footballer and has a lot of knowledge of the game.
"He can bring that into our training and our game plans."
It didn't take King long to learn a touch of Crockerisms, who has remained at the club for most of the past 35 years that has included three stints as its AFL caretaker coach.
"He really just upholds the Shinboner spirit and the commitment to the club," she said, "and I think seeing him and where's he's gone will be an inspiration for the girls about that commitment and spirit of the club."
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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.
