JASMYN Hewett wasn't meant to be playing in the NAB AFLW Grand Final.
In fact, she wasn't able meant to be playing for Adelaide at all.
Hewett had started her career at the Crows but made the switch to Gold Coast for 2020 after the Darwin zone (her home at the time) changed to the Suns.
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She chose to take some time away from the game due to work commitments, playing "local footy" with Pint in the NTFLW, but last year Hewett told womens.afl a chance meeting between her best mate and Chelsea Randall put the wheels in motion for a Crows return.
Given Adelaide's strong ruck stocks, Hewett had played just two games this season – round three and round 10 – before Montana McKinnon's untimely suspension opened the door for a surprise Grand Final call-up.
And low and behold, Hewett kicked the opening goal of the match in her very first Grand Final, having missed 2019 with an ankle injury.
"If you'd have told me last year, at this time, when I was running round in the Darwin local league, that I'd be running around as a premiership Adelaide Crows player, I would have laughed," Hewett told womens.afl.
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"There was absolutely no way possible. My best friend ran into Chelsea Randall and it ignited something, and now I'm back and I just can't believe how it's all just come around.
"The footy gods are speaking to me now and gave me that opportunity, and I think I grabbed it."
Hewett said she had spoken to McKinnon pre-match, and promised to play for the suspended youngster.
"It's a tough one. I had been told I was just on the edge, there are players in the team who are playing really bloody well, it's an amazing side, so hard to crack into and credit to the girls who have been performing," Hewett said.
"It comes down to a really horrible decision which unfortunately didn't go our way, but it did give me that opportunity, so it's bittersweet in that way.
"I told 'Monty' before the game I would be going out there and wearing my heart on my sleeve for her, so I'm really glad I got the job done for her instead."
