“YOU got selected for a reason.”

It was a nervous wait for Carlton defender Mua Laloifi at last year’s NAB AFL Women’s Draft, the mature-age recruit sitting in the crowd on the day unsure of where she would end up.

Having missed a year of football through ACL injury, Laloifi felt a huge sense of relief when her name was called out at pick No.52.

“I think because I was going up against some very quality and talented players then coming back from an ACL I didn’t know if I was going to get picked up,” Laloifi said.

“But looking back on it, I did go to draft day and sitting there was intense: waiting for your name and then just sitting there. I remember sitting there with a couple of my support that came with me and it was just nerve-racking for me.

“Looking back I should have just enjoyed it a little bit more but I was just sweating and then once your name gets called out I was just like ‘phew’.”

Once officially a Blue, Laloifi’s afternoon became a whirlwind of media and meeting her new teammates.

“I was still trying to get over the fact that I got selected so I was meeting people, they were introducing themselves, I forgot their names,” she said.

“It was surreal and you can’t really explain it but I was all hyped up and then when I got to meet the girls, I was stoked that I got to be locker buddies with Kez and Tayla Harris."

Laloifi’s key piece of advice for new draftees: stay true to your personality and natural playing style, because that’s what got you to AFLW.

“You got drafted for a reason so I think it’s more trust in your own ability - the coaches and the players are there to help,” she said.

“But don’t be afraid to be yourself as well, I know I got a lot of feedback for my first experience and it was be yourself and play with the flair that you got selected for.”