Looking back at Elisha King's journey, it's clear to see she's never been afraid to punch above her weight.
Playing in the Under 12s in Cairns, she wasn't afraid to mix it with the boys, and win.
Her football skills and talent caught the eye, and the hard-running junior went on to become the first female to win the competition's best and fairest award.
Elisha King (right) with her best and fairest award.
“It made me think that girls really can do anything and really pushed me to play better footy and more footy ... so it was a pretty big time in my life,” the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos' open age signing told North Media.
“I was only one of very few girls in the league, and managed to pull through with best and fairest, everyone got around me and it was a great time.”
For King, it was never a question of if she would try and play sport professionally, but a matter of which sport she'd play.
“I was playing hockey pretty seriously and I was at the point of picking between hockey and AFL,” she said.
“During that time, I did my ACL and after that it was pretty much just AFL for me, which made the decision easier … I haven’t really picked up a hockey stick since then.”
Having also played basketball and soccer, King identified how to use her strengths in the different codes.
“My speed is pretty constant across different sports,” King said.
“From hockey I was always on the wing or in the inner, I was a fast runner which has carried through to how I play AFL.”
With her hockey days over, King is focused on playing for North in 2019.
“There’s a lot I’m excited about for the upcoming season. I’m excited to play some good footy and especially with a great bunch of girls.”
Making the move to Melbourne a couple of months ago from Queensland, the 18-year-old is enjoying her new environment.
“The move is going really well. I have some family here and am making friends, and all the [North] girls I’ve met so far have been great.”
Even when not in footy mode, King is immersed in North Melbourne having acquired a job at a local favourite, Café Trutrack.
But there's little time to spend sipping coffee, with pre-season training just around the corner.
"I can't wait to get started and begin training," she said.
"It's going to be a great year."
