AS THE girls gear up to take on Collingwood this week, there was a very fitting guest for this week's episode of Behind the Game Changers.

Nicola Stevens, a former Collingwood best-and-fairest winner who’s now a key Carlton cog, joined Sarah Hosking on this week’s podcast.

Episode guide:

1:00: How was Nicola placed leading up to Round 1? Stevens discussed the season opener and her new teammates’ performances against Richmond.

5:50: Nicola breaks down how her football journey began.

10:00: Nicola’s VFLW experience was varied before the AFLW kicked off.

14:00: The first ever AFLW pick for Collingwood, Stevens recalls her draft day.

16:20: Nicola goes into the specifics of her ambassador role, and why it is close to her heart.

20:45: Ever wonder why Nicola always wears a ribbon when she plays footy? This is the touching reason why.

21:45: Nicola opens up about dealing with tough challenges in her family life.

24:00: Nicola talks about her alternate career paths and the reasons that drove her down that path.

26:00: Nicola divulges into her balancing act of starting a business and her AFLW career.

27:25: Quickfire questions: Sarah gets Nicola’s hot take on the questions that matter around Carlton’s AFLW side.

32:50: Nicola gives her predictions for Round 2.