A HOMECOMING years in the making.

New recruit Maddy Guerin lived out her childhood in the shadows of Ikon Park years before she would come to pull on the Navy Blue.

Starting out her AFLW career at Melbourne, Guerin has made her way back to Carlton after attending Princes Hill Secondary College — a drop punt away from her new home.

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Guerin: I can't wait to build something

Maddy Guerin spoke to Carlton Media about what being a Bluebagger means to her.

“It’s pretty nostalgic for me because I grew up going for lunch at Princes Park and doing the park run in PE class, so I really love that area,” Guerin said.

“It brings back a lot of good memories and I can’t believe that I’ve come full circle. It’s going to be pretty exciting hanging around Carlton and Princes Hill a lot more.”

Perhaps the greatest nostalgia for Carlton’s newest recruit comes with training and playing on the ground of the first ever AFLW game.

Guerin was there that night, attending with a contingent of Northern Knights girls - Carlton’s NAB League affiliate - to see history in the making. 

“I went with a couple of Northern girls and it was incredible,” she said.

“I just remember looking around and just being in awe of how everyone had come together for this one cause of supporting women in sport and it was just so exciting.

“I was just in awe of Darcy – she kicked about four goals and it was just an incredible night. I think it really just lit the spark of me just wanting to play and wanting to be a part of it all.” 

Guerin found herself a Blue this week alongside veteran Elise O’Dea in a trade for Carlton’s pick No. 15 in the upcoming 2020 NAB AFLW Draft. 

As the Knights’ inaugural best-and-fairest winner, Guerin’s ties to the Club make for an easy transition into the young side ahead of the 2021 season.

“I’ve known Maddy [Prespakis] since she was about 13 or 14, I’ve had the opportunity to play with her when she was at Calder Cannons and Vic Metro as well,” she said. 

“I’ve always just been blown away by how hard she works and cracks in and I’m so excited to build my game and learn off her.

“Georgia Gee, I don’t think we’ve ever really played with each other, but we’ve come close a few times for Metro and I’ve definitely played her on the wing a couple of times. She’s very quick and I’m very excited to be playing with her and not against her.”