NICOLA Stevens is ready to challenge herself this season.
Entering her third season in the competition, the already versatile Stevens will add another string to her bow and spend additional time in the Blues' forward line.
Having used the pre-season and practice games to get a better feel for her new role, Stevens has loved every moment of the transition and sees it as a great opportunity for the season ahead.
“Pre-season has been awesome so far, I think coming into pre-season this year we had our camp fairly early on and that was a really great opportunity for us to get together from the start and really start to build our foundation from early November, early December last year," Stevens said.
“Playing forward I really want to try challenge myself more and play a different position on the ground and if my team needs me in the forward line or the backline I’d like to think I’m an option for us either in the forward line or backline.”
With the 2020 season kicking off this Friday with a historic game against Richmond at Ikon Park, the Game Changers are looking to build on their form from last year to hopefully go one step further.
It's been the little things that have been key for Carlton during the pre-season, with a focus on refining skills and building chemistry among the group with Stevens noting a marked improvement even in these early stages.
Despite the positive signs of the pre-season, the 26-year-old is realistic about the challenges ahead of the team in the upcoming season.
“Towards the end of the season we worked quite well and our first final we were in such good form and we played really well," Stevens said.
"I think if we can start the season the way we finished up in our second last game, we just look to build on that, I think we are in a pretty good position coming off the back end of last year.
“With different conferences and different teams it's hard to tell what the season’s going to be like and we can’t sit there and think we are the second-best team or we can the best team, we just have to try and play each game and build from each week.”
The gang. 💙#BoundByBlue pic.twitter.com/LsipFlXlU2
— Carlton Womens (@carltonfc_w) January 29, 2020
Having been introduced into the 2020 leadership group, Stevens believes displaying her own vulnerability to her fellow teammates during the application process has created a strong foundation amongst the group.
The openness, honesty and diversity of the new leadership group is something Stevens knows will bring the best out of the entire team.
“I could ask for better captains than in Loynes and Kez and to be supported by Sarah and Al," Stevens said.
“We all have such different personalities with the five of us and some girls might feel comfortable going to Al about something, some girls might feel more comfortable Sars or Kez or Loynes. I really just think that with the five of us together that each of us can play that role a little differently.
“I’m probably the quieter leader and just lead by my actions and just like to think that if people needed me for something that I’m always going to do what I can to make my teammates better and to help them be better people too.”
Carlton kick-off their 2020 AFLW campaign this Friday night in a historic match against Richmond.
Fans are encouraged to get to the ground early, with big crowds expected for the season opener.