FOR Carlton’s newest duo of first-round picks, draft night wasn’t so much a culmination of a journey as it was the start of a new chapter. 

Both Keeley Skepper and Mia Austin know that despite realising a dream last night, the hard work is just getting started.

With a strategy to trade as high up the draft order as possible, the Blues got what they were after when they welcomed midfielder Skepper and key forward Austin to IKON Park.

Both of them can play multiple roles, and they add significantly to Carlton’s young talent which the team has welcomed through the door in recent seasons.

Speaking after officially becoming Game Changers, the pairing said the hard yards endured were all worth it given the news on Wednesday night.

“I remember when I was little and playing Auskick. It was before women’s footy was a thing, and I thought ‘maybe I can be the first girl to play with the boys’,” Austin said.

“For it to be a reality is insane.”

“I’ve been playing footy my whole life, so it’s really exciting,” Skepper added.

“It’s been a long time coming.”

What won’t be a “long time coming” is the draftee duo getting to know their new teammates, with Thursday marking the first opportunity to link up with their fellow Blues — just 24 hours after being selected.

They won’t be complete strangers to some inside the four walls, after Skepper played for Vic Country alongside Annie Lee and Poppy Schaap while Austin came out of the Eastern Ranges just a year after the Blues selected Keeley Sherar from the same NAB League club.

While they have been amongst the more highly touted junior prospects for quite some time, they know that they need step in simply as Carlton players, and the need to make a good impression is paramount.

“It still feels pretty surreal. It’ll be awesome to get down there, meet everyone and get into it,” Austin said.

“I’m so excited. I want to be down here the whole holidays,” Skepper said.

“You’re going to struggle to get me out of the place, to be honest!”