She may have been the last player to sign with the GIANTS this off-season, but Jemma Ramsdale is full of determination ahead of her first season in the AFLW competition.

After relocating to Sydney just two weeks ago, the young defender has hit the ground running, ready to make the most of her opportunity.

It’s an opportunity she doesn’t take for granted after the 19-year-old was left shattered following being overlooked in the draft last year.

“It’s amazing that I got this second chance. I was pretty shattered when I didn’t get picked up in the draft,” she said.

‘To have this opportunity means the world to me and I can’t wait to get stuck into the season.”

Following the disappointment of the 2023 draft, Ramsdale threw everything into her season in the VFLW with Collingwood – the club she grew up supporting.

“It was very challenging at the start, you go from being a top dog and one of the bigger and stronger players, to one of the little and younger ones,” she acknowledged.

“At the start of the season it took me a few games to sort of get the rhythm and stuff but I feel like I adapted throughout the season and it was an awesome experience.”

While her focus is on getting better, the determined teen is certainly striving for a debut in her first season.

“I certainly just want to focus on coming to every session and aiming to get better, work on my kicking technique, and get fitter - but I would really love to debut this year,” the 19-year-old admitted.

“I know I’ve come in late but yeah I’ll just keep working and if it doesn’t pay off this year, hopefully I can do enough to earn a contract for next year.”

The former Collingwood VFLW player is doing everything she can to make up for lost time, with her seamless transition into the program noticed by those in charge.

“She’s settled extremely well and is training really strongly,” said development coach Georgia Walker.

“She’s got a great attitude, is team-first, and plays her role really well.

“She’s a natural footballer and picks things up straight away, which makes her easy to coach and is only going to help her in pushing her case for selection come the start of the season.”

Walker is not just a development coach for the young Victorian recruit, but a familiar face away from home, with the pair previously working together in the underage talent pathway back in Victoria.

“Yeah, it’s been really nice to have Georgia here,” Ramsdale said.

“When I first got the call to come up and train on that training day, it was really nice that Georgia picked me up from the airport and made me feel really welcome. She gave my parents a tour of the club and stuff when they came up and it’s just really nice to know I’ve got someone in my corner up here already.”

The competitive defender took little time to impress in her first appearance in GIANTS colours in the match simulation against the Swans last weekend.

“She played really confidently and given she’s only been with us for a couple of weeks she didn’t look out of place at all,” Walker said.

“We see her developing into a similar style of player as Tarni Evans. She reads the play well, has strong hands, and is a real competitor.”

The GIANTS kick off their 2024 NAB AFLW season on Saturday, August 31 against the Western Bulldogs in Canberra at Manuka Oval.

Don’t miss out on being part of an exciting AFLW season by becoming a member today, with tickets also now on sale.