Eight years later, she's a premiership AFLW star, foundation Gold Coast Suns player, a role model to a rising generation of footballers and ready for the next step in her life.

Riley left the field for the last time at the weekend, bringing an end to an illustrious five-year career.

"The old girl is hanging up the boots," she said after the game. "I made the call this week and spoke to the group, so there are a few mixed emotions at the moment."

Riley, a former Mt Clear College student, dived into her football after moving to the Northern Territory and represented the NTFL.

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She was selected with Adelaide's fifth pick and thirty-ninth overall at the 2016 national draft, ahead of the first-ever AFLW season.

Riley was appointed the Crows' inaugural co-vice-captain and helped Adelaide write its name in the history books as the first AFLW premier in 2017.

Two more seasons with the Crows would follow before she was delisted at the end of 2019.

The Gold Coast Suns were quick to pick up the phone ahead of their inaugural AFLW season.

"It's always challenging starting at a new team, having done that before, and (also) starting three years behind everyone else," Riley said of her move in 2020.

"The legacy I wanted to bring (was) to create an environment that people want to be a part of and one where we give it our all."

"I reckon I can walk out of here, as much as this year was really hard, (knowing) the friendships I've made here both with staff and teammates, there's some here that will last forever.

"I've loved my time here, and I said to the girls I wouldn't want to be anywhere else to run out for my last game."

Riley's contributions off the field were just as great, with tributes posted to social media acknowledging the 30-year-old's lasting impact on women's football.

"The player with the biggest and kindest heart. Thanks for all the memories and what you've done for the game on and off the field," premiership teammate and current Adelaide captain Chelsea Randall said.

Riley's family remains heavily involved with the Redan Football Netball Club and was able to jet to Queensland for the game before the latest COVID-19 outbreak in Brisbane.

"How good are my family, really," Riley said.

"The support they have given (me) has been fantastic."

Riley is a PE teacher at Miami State High School on the Gold Coast.

"The Gold Coast community has really embraced me, and I've loved it," she said. "The school kids and the kids that I coach have been awesome.

"I look forward to doing more of that."

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