As she prepares to lead Hawthorn into its first AFLW season, foundation captain Tilly Lucas-Rodd has emphasised the importance of finding the playing group's purpose.
One of four clubs entering the competition in 2022, the Hawks will play their first AFLW game against fellow expansion side Essendon on Saturday evening at Marvel Stadium, the game moved from North Port Oval after what league officials have called "unprecedented" demand for tickets.
Under the guidance of coach Bec Goddard, the Hawks have tapped into their existing VFLW group - who finished second in the VFL Women's season - to build their inaugural AFLW list.
They will be supplemented by veteran league figures that have been recruited such as former Saint Lucas-Rodd, ex-Kangaroo Kaitlyn Ashmore, and former Giant Louise Stephenson.
"In the last couple of years, I think I've developed an understanding that we all have different purposes for playing footy," Lucas-Rodd told AAP Sport.
"Brett Ratten said to me that you've got to understand people's purpose to bring them together.
"So that's a big one for me: yes, lead by example, but understand that everyone is going to be different and want to do things differently and that's OK - as long as we're coming together for the same goal."
This season marks the return of Goddard to the ranks of AFLW coaches after a three-year absence.
Appointed Adelaide's coach for the first AFLW season in 2017, the 44-year-old led the Crows to the Premiership that year but resigned after the 2018 campaign, electing to return to Canberra to resume full-time work with the Australian Federal Police.
She joined the Hawks' VFLW program ahead of the cancelled 2020 campaign and, after leading them during the 2021 season, was announced as the club's first AFLW coach when it received a licence for 2022.
"Bec does a lot of work, she's a great personality so she helps in the culture-build," Lucas-Rodd said.
"But also in the broader club, you want to make sure you're building that winning culture. We don't just want to make up the numbers. We want to be competitive.
"You can't set too many KPIs in terms of wins and losses for the year but we want to make sure our brand of footy is competitive and can stick with the best."
Australian Associated Press
