Britt Tully would be lying if she told you she expected to be named in the GWS Giants' leadership group after a one-year hiatus.
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But she has done just that after jumping at an opportunity to return to the AFLW having taken last season off to put her "double life" as a female athlete on hold.
The Canberra product joins Pepa Randall, Alicia Eva, Jess Dal Pos and Cora Staunton in the Giants' leadership group as GWS look to make a statement against 13 rivals in an expanded league.
"It's one of those things, I strive to try to lead and lead by example," Tully said.
"I don't know whether that gets seen by other people, but I don't change myself to be anything [else].
"After a year off, I thought I probably wouldn't go anywhere near that, but it was always a goal to get there at some point.
"I guess it just reaffirms what your teammates think of you and it makes me feel good about myself."
The Giants will open their campaign against the Gold Coast Suns at Blacktown International Sportspark on February 8.
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It puts Tully and No. 4 draft pick Maggie Gorham on a collision course with fellow Canberra duo Lexie Hamilton and Hannah Dunn after they were picked up by the Suns in the 2019 draft.
The latter trio joined Jacqueline Parry (Melbourne Demons) in a group of four drafted straight out of the AFL Canberra competition with another two former ACT products in Najwa Allen (Adelaide Crows) and Talia Radan (West Coast Eagles) also scooped up.
"It's actually really exciting that talent in Canberra is getting recognised on a greater level now," Tully said.
"With the introduction of more teams, that was always bound to happen. We definitely have the talent in Canberra that can play AFLW, I'm really glad those guys have found spots in other teams.
"It's good we're not all at the one club and the one club closest to Canberra. We're all spread around a bit, it expands the talent.
"It shows girls in the local comp it's not that far away if you want to put in some hard work."