"I didn't even know it was a thing," she told womens.afl

"I had my first year [in VFLW] last year which was awesome, and then got signed for [AFLW] next year – they haven't been able to get rid of me.

Edmonds, who boasts an intimidating physique and highly regimented professional career outside of AFLW, says that those entering the competition now are very lucky to be at the beginning of something special.

"I think it was the physicality of it, it was something different," she said.

"We're lucky … we're able to be the first girls to start from the ground up. In a couple of years' time girls aren't going to have the opportunity to do that, so I think it's something really unique," she said.

"That's something we'll be able to look back on and think ‘yeah that's pretty cool, I was there from the start'."