LIKE dozens of her peers, this week saw the realisation of a dream for young star Sara Howley, who was drafted to the GWS Giants in Monday night’s AFL Women’s Draft.

But, the realisation of that dream has meant having another kind of realisation – a big move away from home.

But, the Geelong Falcon girl has had some time to come to terms with the possibility of it happening.

“I sort of talked with the Giants throughout the year, so it obviously sort of went into my mind a little bit throughout the year, but so stoked,” she said. “Definitely a new opportunity. I’m sure it’ll be hard to move away, love Geelong but super keen to try something new. My friends are already set up with it, so yeah should be good.”

GWS really targeted a need by drafting Howley, with the number four pick likely to slot nicely into a second possession role alongside star new team mate Alyce Parker.

When asked how she felt about coming into a team where she could fill a role so well, Howley said her focus was on trying to make her debut

“I think it’ll be unreal, looking to Alyce Parker, it’ll be such a surreal feeling to hopefully one day play alongside her, and if I can do my bit to support the team and get a couple wins, I’ll be very happy,” she said.

It has been a big year for the young midfielder, who played a slightly different and more contested midfielder role at the National Championships.

“I think just naturally just coming together with the best of the best in the state, I think,” Howley said, when asked about the change in role.

“So you want to bring your game to the next level, and I think, I definitely was able to do that. So I think it just came with the sort of players around the ball, sort of the team dynamic. But very happy with my national champs, and definitely look fondly back on them.”

It was joining the Falcons four seasons ago that was the sign for Howley that she could really make something from a career in this sport.

“I think it was probably the first step in going to one of those representative sides,” Howley said. “Then obviously training in my first year with some of the, I think five girls got drafted that year. So I think just watching them on the big screen get drafted that year and thinking ‘this is a real possibility for me.’ I think they gave me great confidence and the Falcons program in general.”