IT'S NO surprise Chloe Bown has made such an impressive start to her AFLW career with Adelaide champion Ebony Marinoff showing her the way.

After starting the season as a forward, Bown has finally joined Marinoff in the midfield where she's quickly made her mark.

And after starring in the Crows' upset win over Gold Coast in round 10, she finally earned a Telstra AFLW Rising Star nomination. 

But the 18-year-old is no stranger to an accolade. In her draft year, she captained the U18 All-Australian team and was named Vic Metro's Most Valuable Player at the National Championships, before she was taken at pick No.5 in the draft.

But Bown didn't let her glowing resume and high draft pick status go to her head. She moved from Victoria into Ebony Marinoff's share house in Adelaide and immediately got to work.

"I never would have thought actually I'd be living with (Marinoff), but it's pretty unreal." Bown told AFL.com.au. 

"I started in the forward line this year, and then I've slowly worked into the midfield and getting to play with her now is crazy ... She's taught me so much, just watching her, the work she puts in, not just on the field, but she's a hard worker at training. She brings others along with her too."

When Marinoff was asked about her young teammate's Rising Star nomination, she was pretty concise in her reaction; "About time."

Having spent the last eight months working and living alongside Bown, Marinoff has seen first-hand the youngster's keen work ethic. 

"I'm super proud, (of her nomination.) I've been counting down the weeks," Marinoff said. 

"I said to (coach Ryan Davis), 'When are you going to put this bloody kid in the midfield?' It's been a long time coming for her to be recognised in there, and I'm just so proud.

"She's been living here for eight or so months now, and she's really starting to just shine into that midfield, and I just love playing alongside her."

Understanding what it takes to make it at the top level, it was actually Marinoff that requested for Bown to live with her knowing she could offer the young star a mentorship role. 

"I've been at this club for 10 years, and we've never really had a high draft pick," Marinoff said. 

"I thought I've had some incredible mentors and someone that I really wanted to grab my hands and I knew we were going to be playing footy on the inside together. Just to be able to help her find her feet and give her a little second family in Adelaide has been amazing.

"My partner and I have loved getting to know 'Chlo' and her family. They're just beautiful.

"She's a real learner, and she's eager to learn. She loves to listen. She loves to ask questions; she's a real curious kid. 

"I feel like when you're curious and you're eager to learn, you'll always be a really good athlete."

Bown always knew the step up into AFLW was going to be challenge, but relished her chance to absorb everything she could from the Crows.  

"I definitely knew, watching [AFLW] in my juniors, that every year it got faster, and I was like, 'Oh, yeah it's going to be a big step up'," Bown said. 

"I think pre-season was probably pretty important. To just adjust to the massive step up to the speed of the game and the physicality, and getting a bit stronger as well. I was working hard at training, and learning.

"Not just on the field, but off the field as well. And there are so many amazing people in our team. I've learned something off everyone, so it’s been a big thing for me."

While Bown had played as a midfielder throughout juniors, she took her chance as a forward earlier in the season. Having never truly played the position before, the "curious kid" made the most of the opportunity. 

"I learned so much (as a forward), and I think it's helped me in the midfield now in the way that I know a bit more forward structure," Bown said. 

"When you go into the midfield, I know how the ball wants to be kicked to the forwards and how they're going to be leading a bit more. I learned a lot from the forward line, and then it's now been awesome to get into to the midfield and to go back to a position I know best.

"I think my hands (is my biggest strength). Getting ground balls and then handballs. 

"I'm also trying to work on my kick as well. In juniors, that was one thing I was really working but this year, I've really tried to get on top of that."

Bown's quick hands being her key trait should be expected considering she's based her game style off one of the greatest handballers in the game, Geelong star Georgie Prespakis. 

"I think she is just a gun," Bown said. 

"She's just so agile and fast, and it's something I want to incorporate into my game a bit more. Her ability to break lines and drive her legs out of contest. Her hands, it's pretty unreal.  

"It was pretty funny when we played Geelong because she was one of my idols growing up, and it was so crazy to be on the same oval as her. It was a crazy moment for me being like, 'Oh, I'm actually playing against someone that I've looked up to for so long'."

While Bown is still keeping an eye on her idols and learning from her champion teammates, Marinoff says it won't be long before the 18-year-old is one the League's stars.

"In terms of what she'll be able to do for this team, she hasn't even scratched the surface yet," Marinoff said. 

"Coming up against the best midfielders in the comp, and not just holding her own, but genuinely having impacts on games. She could be the best player in the competition one day."