Daria Bannister openly admits there were moments where she thought her body was going to stop her ever being able to have an impact at the AFLW level.
But the knee and collarbone woes that limited her to four matches in her first three years on an AFLW list seem a distant memory, with the 21-year-old now a key component in the front half for the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos.
"I have definitely had a horror run with injury, so I am very happy to be out there finally being able to play some consistent footy,'' she said this week.
"It was very frustrating at the time and I did question whether my body could handle being in the AFLW competition after coming back and playing in the TSLW and then returning to the AFLW and re-injuring myself, so it was definitely a tough time, so that makes this year more special to be able to play some consistent football."
Bannister, who has tasted premiership success for Launceston and been crowned the best in the TSLW, has kicked 4.5 this season for the Roos, with goals against Melbourne and Carlton [in her home city] key factors in North wins.
Along the way she has averaged 5.8 disposals, 1.7 marks, 1.5 tackles and 1.2 inside 50s per game.
"I try not to put too much pressure on myself and really just try to finish each game off not injured and I am just looking to play my role up forward and have an impact,'' she said.
Bannister described her outing at UTAS Stadium, where she showed off her marking strength on top of hitting the scoreboard, as "a very special moment" as she was able to play in front of family and friends for the first time.
She will get another chance in her home state on Saturday when North hosts the Western Bulldogs at North Hobart Oval where her side will look to extend its record in Tasmania to 6-0.
Playing at North Hobart Oval will be another big moment for Bannister. She also said the entire group felt comfortable playing in the state.
Saturday's match will be a significant one in the AFLW finals race, with North sitting in fifth spot and the Western Bulldogs in seventh.
"I think from here on we will take it one week at a time, as it is a very tough finish for all teams, but we need to just play our way and keep the momentum going,'' Bannister said.
"We will just have to keep bringing our pressure, but at the moment we are lacking four quarters.
"But we know against the Bulldogs we will just need to bring that pressure and getting four quarters on the board will be key and hopefully we can continue to do that for the rest of the season."
Saturday will see Bannister play against her former side for the first time, something she was looking forward to as she still has a lot of friends at the Bulldogs.
Bannister will be joined by fellow Tasmanians Nicole Bresnehan, Mia King and Ellie Gavalas in North's team, with Ellyse Gamble to line up for the Dogs.
Saturday's game will start at 5.10pm.
Alex Fair
Deputy Editor of The Advocate on the North-West Coast of Tasmania.
Deputy Editor of The Advocate on the North-West Coast of Tasmania.
