Jenna Bruton admits she is already starting to get nervous ahead of her first appearance in a Western Bulldogs jumper.
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The Trentham local, who was recruited to the Bulldogs with pick 11 in October’s AFLW national draft, will step out for the club in Saturday night’s pre-season practice game against Carlton in Ballarat.
It’s a great place for the 22-year-old to get a taste of the competition, with Ballarat an important part of her football journey.
Bruton played for a few seasons with Golden Point in the local youth girls league before moving to St Kilda Sharks in Melbourne.
The onballer said it didn’t yet feel real that she was on the list of an AFLW club.
“We haven’t had a game yet, so it will be interesting on Saturday,” she said.
“I’m pretty excited, but I’ll be nervous.
“I do usually get nervous the day before (a game), but I’ve been a bit nervous about it the last few days.
“It’s pretty cool to (be able) to play in Ballarat because it’s such a country town and I’m looking forward to it.”
Bruton is mixing life on the family farm with that of a top-level footballer and regularly travels to and from Melbourne for training.
She said while there was a good level of interest from clubs during the draft process, it still came as a shock to be recruited to the AFLW, particularly by the Bulldogs.
“A few clubs had told me that they would probably pick me up, (but) I wasn’t getting my hopes up,” she said.
While much of her football has been played in the midfield, Bruton said she is unsure what her on-field role will be with the Bulldogs.
But she is sure to get a better idea on Saturday night when the team takes on the Blues at Mars Stadium.
Here, Bruton will play alongside Bulldogs defender Laura Bailey, who hails from Ballarat and was a teammate at the Sharks.
Bailey is gearing up for her second season at the elite level after being part of the inaugural competition in 2017.
Saturday’s practice match is set to start at 7pm. Entry is free, with the gates to open from 6pm.
Following this, the Bulldogs will continue their preparations for the 2018 season.
The club will take on Fremantle at the Whitten Oval in round one on Sunday, February 4 before a round two encounter against the Brisbane Lions the following Sunday.
The AFLW season comprises seven home and away rounds, with the top two teams to then meet in the grand final.
Adelaide won last season’s inaugural AFLW premiership.
