JOURNALIST Angela Pippos' League Of Her Own documentary followed three female footballers' unique journeys to last year's inaugural AFL Women's season.

There was Moana Hope, fresh from kicking a century of goals for VFLW club St Kilda Sharks and who became one of Collingwood's marquee players.

Steph Chiocci was another. She captained the Western Bulldogs in the AFL women's exhibition matches, then earned the same honour with her AFLW team, the Magpies.

Hope and Chiocci were centre stage on Friday night as season two kicked off at Ikon Park, whereas the third footballer, Darwin-based Tayla Thorn, won't play in the 2018 competition.

Thorn, at 18, was the baby of Adelaide's squad, but still played five of the seven home and away games, although she missed out on playing in the Grand Final.

A long career on the big stage beckoned.

But there were discussions in the aftermath between the teenage utility – long regarded as the Northern Territory's brightest female talent – and the Crows' general manager of football administration, Phil Harper.

Thorn struggled with shin splints throughout her AFLW campaign and there was an adjustment period to the step up in professionalism.

"I sort of just took a break and stepped back from footy and had time on my own, and that's how I came to telling Phil that I wasn't going to play in the Crows side any more," she told AFL.com.au.

"I didn't get sick of it; just being so young, I wasn't ready for it.

"It was a big learning curve for me and I will come back bigger and stronger and it definitely won't be my last season at AFLW."

Tayla Thorn lays a tackle on Fremantle's Kirby Bentley. Picture: AFL Photos

Thorn never had Hope's or Chiocci's profile, especially being off AFL Broadway in the Top End, but what piqued Pippos' interest was her indigenous background and great promise.

The now 19-year-old's late grandmother grew up in Arnhem Land's Cobourg Peninsula and her mother Brenda Perez's father is Spanish.

She counts Geelong footballer Nakia Cockatoo as her cousin and is particularly close with his sister, Che.

Thorn told us on League Of Her Own: "I didn't have any role models – I just saw people I didn't want to be like. I wanted to be better."

That process has gone into warp speed in recent months.

Thorn was team manager for the NT's under-16 squad at last year's KickStart National Championships for indigenous players, and missed the first two rounds of the local football season to be there.

She played in the championships for three consecutive years, firstly as the youngest member then eventually its oldest and as captain. The Territory won every time.

Thorn is also about to start work as a development officer at Taminmin High School.

"Me being a role model to the young indigenous girls … it didn't come to me immediately, because I was so young myself," she said.

"But when I look back at it, it's like, 'Wow, I am a role model', and it did affect everyone and my whole lifestyle."

Thorn's coach at St Mary's, Jarred Ilett, a revered footballer in the Territory for his feats at that club and NT Thunder, has also seen changes in her since the new year started.

"She's one of the most naturally talented footballers in the Territory," Ilett said.

"If she decided to have another crack at AFLW, she's more than capable. It will just come down to training and work ethic, and we gave her the space to work out what she wanted to do.

"Post-Christmas, she's become a pretty strong leader and pretty important player for us."

Thorn is also training in the hope of being part of Thunder's inaugural VFLW side this year, possibly as a springboard to being back in the AFLW in 2019.

"I just go with the flow. I'm putting my head down and trying to get in the VFLW side," she said.

"If I do make it back in the AFLW then great, but I'm just focusing on VFLW for now."