Ellyse Gamble's maiden outing as an AFLW player in her home state is set to provide her with a very special season first.
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The chance to play in front of friends and family.
Where usually, for example, her mum Sharon might sneak over to Victoria during the season to watch the 23-year-old do her thing in defence for the Western Bulldogs, the complexities of the world at present thanks to COVID-19 and its impact on borders has ruled that out so far in 2021.
That's why, as Gamble explained this week, the news that her Bulldogs would be playing the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos at North Hobart Oval on Saturday brought a smile to her face.
"I am really excited by the opportunity to play a game of AFLW in front of my friends and family,'' Gamble said.
"Tassie is where I have played a lot of my football so far and I have a lot of amazing memories, and this will be another one and I really am looking forward to seeing some friendly faces in the crowd."
The two-time Burnie Dockers premiership player from Wynyard is set to have a strong support crew in attendance, with Sharon and dad Ron, sister-in-law Sophie, nephew Noah and best friend Danielle set to be part of that.
Gamble, who was an emergency the last time the Dogs played in Tasmania [at UTAS Stadium in 2019], an experience she said was special in its own right, said to be able to play on such a historically significant ground as North Hobart Oval would be next level.
"To have the opportunity to play in Tassie is obviously great, but also at North Hobart Oval where there is a lot of football significance and history I am just so grateful for that opportunity,'' she said.
"To be able to play a game in Tassie at North Hobart Oval with the Western Bulldogs might not be something that comes around again, so I am going to grab it with both hands and enjoy it this weekend."
Gamble, who said her Western Bulldogs teammates were now coming at her for some "expert advice" on playing in the state, is in the form of her AFLW life.
Having established herself as a key part coach Nathan Burke's defensive unit, Gamble admitted she was finally feeling comfortable at the level.
She has played five matches this season, averaging 5.6 disposals, 0.8 marks, 1.8 tackles and 1.4 rebound 50s a game.
"I am definitely feeling comfortable down in the backline and I am really enjoying my football now I have been able to find that consistency, something that I have been trying to find over the past couple of seasons and play back-to-back-to-back games,'' Gamble said.
"I am feeling really good and what is exciting about my team and backline group is that people are starting to say 'how good is the Bulldogs' backline group' and I am loving being part of that group.
"The way we go about our football is just by playing that team defence and helping each other out that has made it really easy to come into the team and play my role and I feel like I have taken some big strides in my individual development this year.
"With that feeling of comfort and my ability to impact a game, reflecting on previous seasons this is the one where I have felt most comfortable."
Gamble said the big lesson from the 36-point loss to Collingwood last week [after leading at half-time] was the need to be switched on and implement their pressure game for four quarters, something they will need to do against the Roos.
Saturday's game has an early season final feel to it with North in fifth spot and the Dogs in seventh, with both teams having a 4-2 record.
The Dogs will also need to break the stranglehold North has on Tasmanian fixtures, having won all five, which includes wins at North Hobart Oval against Carlton and Adelaide.
"North Melbourne has been playing some good football and have some really good players and we believe our best performance can beat them,'' Gamble said.
"It will definitely be a tough game, but we will put in a four quarter effort."
There could be plenty of Tasmanians at Gamble's end of the ground, with Daria Bannister and Mia King spending plenty of time forward for North, while if Brooke Brown got a chance she would also likely be in attack.
Gamble could get the job on key forward Emma King, who kicked 2.0 last week against Richmond, where the key will be "reading the ball as it comes in" against the 187cm King.
Saturday will be Gamble's 19th AFLW outing since being drafted with the 69th pick in the 2016 national draft.
She recently moved into third place for most games by a Tasmanian in the competition's history, overtaking Burnie flag teammate Emma Humphries [16 games for Melbourne and North Melbourne].
Brisbane's Jessica Wuetschner will jump into first place if she is part of the team that faces Collingwood, which would be her 31st outing. The sidelined Brittany Gibson also has 30 games, for Brisbane and North.
Saturday's game will start at 5.10pm.