THE 2018 Australian Football season is one Rhianna Nelson won't forget in a hurry.
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It was the Bundaberg product's breakthrough campaign, which led to her making her debut with the Australian Defence Force side.
But due to her work commitments, this competition proved to be to the last time the now 25-year-old took part in an Aussie Rules match for close to 12 months.
"I was posted down in Sale which is a small town in Victoria - they don't have a women's competition there as of yet," Nelson said.
"I did meet the coach of the Essendon VFLW team and was able to get some insight into the AFLW and the drafting process but unfortunately talking footy was all I was able to do last year."
After completing her work commitments in Victoria, Nelson was posted to HMAS Albatross to complete her aviation training at the start of 2020.
"After being posted to HMAS Albatross, I moved to Kiama," the sub-lieutenant said.
"I knew they had a team at Kiama but my previous coach Col Lawrence encouraged me to get along to a training session at Bomaderry - he had nothing but good things to say about the club and told me how the girls were so close to snagging another premiership last year.
"So I first went and trained with the Bomaderry girls - they were so welcoming, happy to get a kick in but also determined to take the premiership back.
"I decided just to stick with them and hopefully I can play a part in helping them get there this year."
Nelson has since been working hard with Geoff Gibbs' group to avenge last year's heartbreaking one-point loss to the Wollongong Bulldogs.
"They [the Bomaderry women's team] are definitely up there as one of the most welcoming teams I've been a part of," she said.
"Geoff and Mat [Farrow] are obviously very passionate about footy but also about helping each of us improve our individual weaknesses in the game, to be able to improve as a team.
"The girls are all very encouraging and really hype each other up, which always makes you want to play better.
"There's also been a real focus on the basics and trying to get them right, which I think is important especially in women's footy.
"If you have the basics down pat, you can really open up the game, keep it efficient and it's definitely an advantage."
This disrupted pre-season, due to the bushfires and Nelson's late arrival, also included a trial match against Batemans Bay at Hanging Rock.
"It was really good to pull the boots on again after not being able to play for quite some time," she said.
"It was definitely a different style of play to what I was used to - granted we were playing on a smaller field and trying to avoid the cricket pitch on one side - so it felt pretty cramped.
"It wasn't my best game, as I was just trying to get back into reading the play, feeling the contact and picking up how my teammates play, while figuring out how I can best fit into our squad."
Making her integration into the Tigers was made easier by the fact former teammates Sarah Currie and Kiara Penney have also joined the club for the 2020 AFL South Coast season.
"Playing at ADFA (Australian Defence Force Academy) together, you know that you'll never have the same team each year - there's a huge club culture towards not just being a team but always being part of the club," she said.
"I consider myself really fortunate to be able to play with them again [Sarah and Kiara] and be part of the same club again - it's been a very lucky coincidence that we're all in the same place and keen to keep playing footy.
"Knowing how they play will really help this season.
"We all play different positions on the field, so hopefully we all add something different to the team - particularly with creating a link from the backline and through the midfield.
"Hopefully as we get more girls posting in from the ADFA team in the future we can helpfully guide them to join us."
Although she's only played one trial match, Nelson already knows the Artie Smith Oval based club is different than anyone else she's played for before.
"Bomaderry as a club is a lot more diverse than my previous club at ADFA, which adds another dynamic to the teams," she said.
"There's also a greater community connection at Bomaderry both outside the club and internally.
"Seeing the support from the club for Jack [Batson] and his family is a great reminder of what a footy club is all about.
"I also got to witness some of the juniors training a couple of weeks ago and it was awesome to see the focus the club has on building junior football, both boys and girls, who will hopefully stay with the club and support it in the future.
"Previously when I played at Coorparoo in Brisbane there wasn't too much integration between the women's and men's teams.
"I know they do it a lot better these days but I can see that Bomaderry is trying to build that integration and seeing some of the men's side supporting the team in the practice match showed that.
"I look forward to seeing how the integration continues to develop in the future."
While the AFLSC season has now delayed its first bounce until the end of May, due to coronavirus, Nelson intends to make the most of her extra training time ahead of her regular season debut.
"I now get a pre-season after all - hopefully in the coming weeks we'll have a clearer idea of what we can and can't do in line with the health guidelines and work around that to keep on top of our game and work on fitness," she said.
"Personally, when the season starts, I want to improve on my skills and fitness, to be a real presence in the midfield for the team.
"As a team, we're definitely looking to the end goal and making up for what was lost last year and win the premiership.
"I've been fortunate to be part of one premiership team with Coorparoo in 2014 and it was an unreal feeling.
"To feel that again with another great group of girls would be something I'd never forget.
"Everyone wants to win a premiership - every year you play to get that cup at the end and celebrate with the medal around your neck and you'll always remember the team you celebrate it with."
Other new faces for the Tigers in 2020 will include Grace Hughes, Rose Hughes, Nicky Murray, Olivia Delahenty, Meg Flemons, Taylah Swankie, Taylah Wright and Shannen Karger.