SHE is only 16, but when it comes to the Bathurst Giants Bridget Warne is officially an emerging leader.
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Last week the talented teenager took part in the three-day AFL Future Leaders Community Program, a course she felt would benefit both herself and the club.
"I thought finishing off being a youth girl this year and being one of the older ones in that team, I'd be able to help them and then as I'm going into seniors, it would help me start being a leader and work my way up," she said.
"I'd be able to work with the Auskickers and help the club out."
Warne joined the Giants last season. Her brother played for the club already and she was looking for something different to do aside from swimming.
She became a member of the forward line in the premiership winning youth girls side.
"I just loved it," she said.
The 12 matches she contested last season hooked her on the sport and made her keen not only to develop her playing skills, but her leadership skills.
Taking part in the AFL program helped with that process.
"It was three days and we did like a zoom call. One was on communication, one was on personal brand and the last one was on leadership," she explained.
"I found the personal brand one really interesting, there was a lot of information that I didn't know, things I didn't even think about.
"It was about how a personal brand is how you perceive yourself and how others perceive you - your reputation - and how that impacts your leadership."
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Warne is now waiting for news on a possible start date for the AFL Central West. The AFL will make a return to play announcement the week commencing May 11.
Still, she did get a taste of playing senior football as she was part of the Giants' women's team which competed in the pre-season AFLX tournament in Sydney
"It was so much fun, it was really good. It was against all the Sydney teams and just a whole different environment, it was a whole lot more than local footy was," she said.
"I was devastated when I heard people saying we'd get barely any of the [AFLCW] season. I'm waiting, waiting, I hope we get to play."
