Now she is on the cusp of being involved in another with the Gunnedah Bulldogs women's side on target to win their maiden AFL North West flag, and in their debut year.

They have already wrapped up the minor premiership with still two rounds remaining. They host Inverell this Saturday before finishing off the regular season against Moree.

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Vickers has thoroughly enjoyed the season. If not for the twist of fate of COVID though she probably would have been helping the Red Devils defend their Central North title.

That was the intention.

When the competition was cancelled she didn't immediately look for somewhere else to play. She was content to give sport "a bit of a break for a while".

"Then my partner (Tom Mackey), he plays AFL and he was encouraging me to give it a go," she said.

"So I thought I'd go to training and see how it is."

"I turned up and loved it."

That love has only grown over the course of the season, in part due to her team-mates and the environment. She said coach Sam Proudfoot has created a culture which is "really infectious".

Being a PDHPE teacher Vickers knew the basics of the game. She had also watched Tom play a couple of seasons down in Wollongong.

Playing mainly on the wing, but also a little bit in the middle, outside of the specific skills like handballing, she said the biggest challenge has probably been making sure you execute all the little details.

"There's so many little things to think about," she said.

Also a pole vaulter of some distinction, Vickers is one of several teachers in the side, and has found herself lining up alongside former students, and even a couple of current ones. But she said it has been nice to develop a different relationship with them.

She added that she feels "blessed" and "grateful" for the experience she has had firstly with the Red Devils and now the Bulldogs.

"Both cultures have been really inviting and welcoming," she said.

Tom is also in his first season with the Bulldogs after deciding to join her at the Red Devils last year.

"He wasn't sure what to play, he'd played rugby league most of his life," she said.

"But he loves AFL and he suits AFL."