TIAH Haynes received her most memorable birthday present when she was selected by the Western Bulldogs with the first pick in the Women's Draft on Monday night.
A creative forward from Western Australia, who turns 21 on Sunday, Haynes has been playing footy since starting out in her local club's Auskick program.
"I still can't get my head around it," she said after watching the draft on a live stream in Perth.
"When I saw my name pop up on the screen I actually just stood there. I think I went straight into shock.
"It was amazing. It's the best birthday week ever."
Haynes will now line up in the women's game between the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on June 29, which is a curtain-raiser before the clubs meet in an AFL clash.
"To be able to represent an actual AFL club … I don't even have words to explain it," Haynes said. "I'm speechless."
Haynes was one of 12 players drafted by the Dogs, while another 12 were selected by Melbourne.
The rest of the squads will be made up of players who took part in the first women's match staged by the clubs last year.
The No. 1 pick in the 2013 draft, Victorian Daisy Pearce, will again play for the Demons.
As they were last season, the teams will be coached by Peta Searle (Western Bulldogs), formerly an assistant coach with Port Melbourne in the VFL, and Michelle Cowan (Melbourne).
For Haynes, the game will be a chance to demonstrate that there is some serious talent in the women's footy ranks in Western Australia.
"It's growing quite fast over here," she said. "And it's good to see so many girls coming through."
THE 2014 WOMEN'S AFL DRAFT
Western Bulldogs
1. Tiah Haynes (Coastal Titans, WA)
3. Darcy Vescio (Darebin, Vic)
4. Melissa Caulfield (East Fremantle, WA)
6. Rheannne Lugg (Swan Districts, WA)
8. Dana Hooker Coastal Titans, WA)
10. Moanna Hope (St Kilda, Vic)
12. Brooke Whyte (Melbourne Uni, Vic)
14. Emily Bates (Yeronga, Qld)
16. Stephanie Walding (East Fremantle, WA)
18. Stephanie Simpson (Darebin, Vic)
20. Lauren Morecroft (Diamond Creek, Vic)
23. Madeline Keryk (Melbourne Uni, Vic) (Emergency)
Melbourne
2. Meg Hutchins (Eastern Devils, Vic)
5. Kellie Gibson (Swan Districts, WA)
7. Emma Zielke (Coorparoo, Qld)
9. Kaitlyn Ashmore (Melbourne Uni, Vic)
11. Lauren Stammers (Coastal Titans, WA)
13. Phoebe McWilliams (St Kilda, Vic)
15. Renee Forth (Coastal Titans, WA)
17. Tayla Harris (Zillmere, Qld)
19. Hayley Miller (Coastal Titans, WA)
21. Dianna Haines (Diamond Creek, Vic)
22. Sissy Dunne (Alice Springs, NT)
24. Courtney Cramey (Morphettville Park, SA) (Emergency)
