Maisy Evans reckons every moment of her two seasons at The Canal have been special, but last Monday definitely took things up a notch.
The 2024 Riewoldt Family AFL Excellence Scholar was surrounded by coaches, family and teammates at a specially convened function at a local pub when she taken by GWS Giants with pick two in the AFLW Pre-Season Draft.
The raucous eruption of cheers and screams when her name was announced could have been heard in her childhood home back in Melbourne's eastern suburbs.
“It was just so magical,” Evans said.
“It was surreal. My emotions were all over the place.”
Her selection takes Bond’s tally of AFLW draftees to 36.
The Bull Sharks hold the record for the most AFLW players drafted from a single club in Australia.
Evans picked up the game when she was 11 years old after a friend dragged her along to training.
“I found AFL was bit of a mix of the two sports I was already playing - netball and rugby - and I think that’s why I grew to like it so much,” Evans said.
“I was always interested in Bond.
"Coming from Melbourne, the Gold Coast lifestyle was really appealing, so I applied for all three scholarships for AFL, Rugby and Netball."
“I was lucky enough to receive the AFL scholarship.”
Evans impressed from the moment she arrived at The Canal kicking a goal from her first touch in Bond’s clash against Southport.
“I think the moment I stepped foot into my first training, I just felt so supported. Evans said.
"Everyone just made me feel so welcome,”
“The Bond AFL club is my second family.”
This year’s AFLW draft was the first of its type with eleven elite players from around the country chosen to fill the last few available places on AFLW playing rosters.
Unlike many AFLW draftees, Evans didn’t follow the usual 'academy' path to the big league.
“I never played in the Coates League or in any academy,” Evans said.
“Community footy is still a potential way to get to where you want to be.
“Playing at Bond and under [Bond University Director of Football] Andy Lovell has really helped me get to where I am today.
"You just have to work hard, show up at training and on match day and put your best foot forward."
Lovell is far from shocked that Evans has been drafted.
“Maisy has just been so coachable, she came to us as a young girl and she's really matured into a really mature athlete,” Lovell said.
“There is no surprise. She's always just been dedicated to making herself a better player.”
Evans will meet her new Giants teammates next week when her first AFLW pre-season gets underway. The season properly starts in early August.
“I am excited to get down to Sydney and meet my new footy family,” Evans said.
“I don’t think I’m at my peak yet in my football career and I’m ready to get super fit and drill down on my skills.”