STAR ruck Breann Moody has dived straight back into pre-season training after spending a semester abroad at Iowa State University.

The 2018 Rising Star nominee and Best and Fairest co-winner said she was rapt with the group’s progress during her absence.  

“I don’t think we’ve ever been stronger as a collective and I think that’s definitely going to show out on the field because it has been out on the training track,” she said.

“I’m pretty excited for the season opener – just to be able to get back out there with the girls. The way we’re looking now, it should be a very successful season and no doubt it’s going to start from Round 1.”

The 180cm ruck will spend her third AFLW season with a new-look Carlton, which saw 11 list changes in 2018, including two trade acquisitions, seven draft picks and two rookie selections.  Changes weren’t limited to the players though, with a new coaching panel helming the side.

“The new coaches are all so friendly and helpful,” Moody said. “The whole atmosphere is so fresh that I’ve slipped straight back in – it’s been awesome.

“The new girls are really good. They’re all so friendly and helpful. After missing those first six weeks, they were all eager to get to know me and help me out and make sure I was right back on the track with the rest of them.

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The break from football was worth it, according to Moody, who covered 24 states in her six months in the US. It wasn’t a total break from sport for the Cranbourne recruit thought, who revelled in Iowa’s sporting culture.

“They’re massive on sport. There’s a massive university there. Their football team went really well this year. Women’s volleyball, wrestling, soccer – they had a team in everything which was pretty exciting.

“I did a couple of fun sessions of volleyball throughout the semester but nothing serious. It was an incredible experience but it’s also very good to be home and back on the track.”

In 2018 Moody was named the co-winner of the Blues’ Best and Fairest award and was awarded a Rising Star nomination for her efforts in Carlton’s Round 5 clash with Brisbane. She said she was working hard to back up her award-laden year.  

“That was last season so I’m working on this season and I still want to improve my fitness and my skills and that sort of thing so as long as I keep doing that it should be a successful season I hope.

“I’m feeling pretty good. Obviously, I’m still looking to improve, and I have things to improve on,” she said. 

The difference for the No. 16 this year is that she will no longer be the only Moody in the league, with twin sister Celine taken at the Bulldogs in the 2018 rookie draft. Celine, who played in the Blues’ VFLW team last year, spent most of her time in the ruck and the forward-line. On the prospects of being paired against her sister, Breann couldn’t be more eager.

“I hope so! That would be pretty exciting if we did,” Moody said.

“She’s not giving away too much over at the Doggies so I’m not quite sure where she’ll be playing but I would say similar positions to me.

“We were very competitive growing up. I think that’s a pretty common trait amongst twins. We’re very competitive but also very supportive of each other. It will be good to see how we go up against each other.”

Regardless of who eventually pairs up against Breann in AFLW 3.0, there’s no doubt they’ll have a fierce competitor on their hands.