DARCY Vescio’s football story is one echoed 100 times over across the AFLW.

The sleek forward discovered her love for football at a young age, but when the women’s pathways dried up she hung up her boots at age 14.

Appearing on Yokayi Footy, Vescio spoke on what led her back to the field and the growth of the women’s football community.

“It’s unreal. I think back to when I had to give up footy and my story is echoed across the league,” Vescio said.

“Everyone’s got the same sort of tale where they played footy growing up and then had to give it away.

“To be able to see girls play now, play all the way through and play in great leagues and be able to have access to coaching and even physios and that sort of thing is just amazing.”

Vescio is part of a Darebin Falcons alumni known for producing some of today’s brightest AFLW stars.

Her return to football was something she never expected, but with it came a sense of community that’s gone from strength-to-strength.

“When I had to quit football as a 14-year-old, I honestly didn’t think I’d get back into footy ever,” she said.

“Then when I came to Melbourne for uni, by chance – well not by chance – by people pushing me back towards football, I found Darebin."

The marquee Blue went on to win four state league premierships with Darebin, crediting much of the player she is today to the club.

“I just love the club and everything they stand for and I think they’ve sort of built the person I am today not only with footy but off-field as well," she said.

“As soon as I got there I learned that you had to work hard, even the best players in the league. Playing alongside Daisy Pearce and Aasta O’Connor, Melissa Hickey – the list goes on.

“They just worked so hard and even if we’d won a premiership, the next pre-season was even harder, it was never any rest. It was amazing.”