Diaz Martyn dipped her toe in the welcoming environment at the Tamworth Swans and then dived in - submerging herself in an experience that has changed her life.
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Never before has the 19-year-old been so affected by a sporting pursuit: the Swans' impact on her so profound that they are a "considerable" factor in her weighing up whether to delay for another year studying psychology at the University of Newcastle.
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Ahead of Saturday's grand final showdown against Gunnedah at Wolseley Oval, Martyn has emerged as the embodiment of the religious-like fervour that has been cultivated in the two seasons the Swans women have been in existence.
Her debut season with the Swans and in AFL has gripped her hard and doesn't want to let go.
"It's just been such an unbelievable addition to my life," she said. "And now I can't imagine myself not being involved with the Swans."
"It's certainly different to what I expected. I didn't expect such a massive sense of community and belonging there."
Martyn has a netball background and had assumed that playing for the Swans would be no different to other clubs she has played for: "You play sport, you win, you're happy."
"But there is just so much more to it with the Swans, with the celebrating and the bus trips and being around each other all the time: it's just such a great sense community and sportsmanship there, which I absolutely love."
Martyn played in the AFL North West's 9s competition at the start of the year "just to get a feel" for the sport. It was "instant love" when she attended her first Swans training session, a feeling that intensified as the season progressed.
"I was meant to be going to Newcastle [for uni] next year," the forward said, "but I think I'm gonna pass up that for another year and keep working [at the Longyard Hotel] and play for the Swans again next year," said the McCarthy Catholic College graduate.
"The Swans have actually been a pretty considerable part of me wanting to stay in Tamworth ... I don't feel I'm ready to leave that community yet."
Little separates the Swans and the Bulldogs. Martyn said it would be "such a hard, tough game of footy ... it's gonna be a spectacle".
Swans manager Nathalie Joice said Martyn had developed into a "key player". "She is fast and has a great boot ... We believe she will stand up this weekend."
