FOR many 18-year-olds, the thought of playing football at a professional level would be quite daunting.

However, rather than backing away from the challenge, Maddy Prespakis is embracing it fully. 

Taken with Carlton’s first pick in the 2018 NAB AFLW Draft, Prespakis has made an immediate impact in the Blues’ midfield, and exceeded every expectation the Carlton faithful could have had for her before the beginning of the season.

In only her second game of AFLW, Prespakis collected 20 disposals, laid five tackles and kicked a goal in the Blues’ narrow Round 2 loss to the Crows.

The performance earned her a well-deserved Rising Star nomination, and cemented her as one of the best young talents in the competition.

While she looks at home on the field, Prespakis credited her teammates for the support they have provided her about her transition to the game’s highest level.

“It’s obviously been a big challenge, it’s a massive step-up even from VFLW,” Prespakis told media on Wednesday.

“Personally, I’ve loved it and I’ve loved every challenge of it.

“It’s always been a dream to play AFL so, now that I’m here, I’m taking it with both hands.

“It has been a big step-up and very challenging at first. I was going home very tired and waking up very sore.

“For me, I didn’t know what to expect this year. I think that I’ve handled myself pretty well  with the group that I’ve got around me, and the girls are there for support whether I’m down or up.

“To know that I’ve got those girls backing me up, that’s what’s helped me get through.”

While the team is yet to register a win so far on the season, the star youngster has been buoyed by the development she has seen on the field.

She credited new coach Daniel Harford as a driving force behind the growing chemistry among the team.

“You can already tell we’re a very different team to last year,” she said.

“I think what we’re doing and what we’re training to do is very exciting, and I can’t wait to see what we can do for the rest of the year.

“I’ve loved ‘Harf’.  He’s got a good balance between when it’s time to be serious and when it’s time to have a bit of a laugh when we can.

“I like the way he coaches and the way he approaches us girls. He always has time to just sit down and chat one-on-one. I really value that.

“I just love the way that he goes about things, and he’s really brought this group from what it was, to so close together.

“We’ve just jelled so well as a team, and I think that really showed on the weekend.”