FROM debut to first goal in the space of three weeks, Taylor Ortlepp has made leaps and bounds in her fast track to AFLW.

Since being welcomed to IKON Park ahead of season seven, the former basketballer has been chomping at the bit to get her chance at the elite level.

“I was coming back from a broken finger and I'd been pushing and pushing to get back on track as soon as I could and they kept holding me back for a little bit longer,” Ortlepp said.

Cleared for a week of training, Ortlepp’s chance came ahead of the Blues’ Round 6 clash with the Giants.

“We were going to Sydney to play GWS so my family could come over and watch,” she said.

“I was really excited, I probably wasn't expecting to get that opportunity as soon as I did, considering I was coming from basketball, but very excited, very thrilled about it and I've loved every minute since.”

Ortlepp’s basketball background has seen her represent Australia at the U16 Oceania Championships in 2013 and the U17 World Championships in 2014, before she signed with the Adelaide Lightning in the WNBL in 2015.

The 24-year-old then headed to the United States to play college basketball before returning home for a second season with the Lightning in 2020 – but with the lure of football on her mind.

“Since I came home from college in 2020, I was always thinking about giving footy a go and then I signed on with basketball for a few years and I just got taken away in that direction."

Eventually, that lure became too great to ignore.

“I got in contact with Carlton, came here and I’m really glad I did. Now that I'm here, it was an easy decision, it was a good decision but at the time it was tough.”

With no shortage of basketballers among the Game Changers’ cohort, Ortlepp had more than one voice in her ear while making the decision to pursue a career in football, as well as ample support now that she’s in the AFLW environment.

“After speaking to ‘Goodie’ and ‘Kez, they talked me into giving it a go and just seeing where it could get me,” she said.

“They've really, really helped me along the way.

“Coming from basketball, not really playing much football ever before, it has been a massive learning curve.”

From her Round 6 debut, Ortlepp has only continued to learn in each of her three AFLW matches.

“The first game I was very nervous, unsure of what I was doing but each game since then, I've definitely grown in confidence and just found my feet through playing.

“You can train and train, but actually playing is a whole different experience and it's been really, really fun.”

Her growth was highlighted last Friday night, when - among her best performance thus far - Ortlepp added her first AFLW goal to her football resume.

“I was not expecting it. I've been in the midfield the last couple of weeks and to be honest, I haven't kicked many goals... but it was awesome,” she said.

“I think last week against the Saints ‘Goodie’ tried to give me a kick, I was wide open in the forward 50, which I didn't quite execute. Then Gab tried to give me a handball out the back and I was like, ‘she's never going to give it to me again.’

“This week she gave it to me and we pulled it off and luckily it went in, so that was awesome.”

With three games down in her AFLW career, Ortlepp’s goals for the remainder of season seven are simple.

“We've got the next two games going forward before finals, so we just want to put our best foot forward and see what we can do – really try to grow as a team and as a group and hopefully go out with two wins and see what happens there.

“Going forward, obviously for myself, I just want to develop and learn the game as much as I can and grow as an athlete.”