The disappointment of having her AFLW finals series cut short by coronavirus might finally start to fade for Wagga's Gabby Colvin now that preparations are in full swing for 2021.
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Colvin's Melbourne Demons were one win away from a grand final when the competition was shut down and it was declared there would be no premiership.
"It was a bit of a shock to the system. You train so hard over the past six months and for that all to come to a screeching halt. It was pretty devastating," Colvin said.
"I feel like we had a good chance of stealing the premiership. It was a bit heartbreaking. Even other teams, they were devastated because there was no winner.
"Nobody took home the cup so everyone feels like there's unfinished business there. It makes us all a bit hungrier this time around, with absolutely no footy being played here in Victoria."
Eight long, hard months later (and after a few weeks of non-contact, small-group sessions), full pre-season training for AFLW teams was allowed this week. The Demons got back on the track on Thursday night.
"That was very exciting. It was good to be around the girls again," Colvin said.
"It was pretty crazy... there was about 30 of us training. It was a bit overwhelming. Everyone's been in lockdown and hasn't been able to see anyone, then we've only trained in little groups. But it was lots of fun."
Colvin said the first lockdown was manageable as she and partner Nathan Scott saw plenty of family in Wagga.
But the separation has been tough since the border closures that followed Victoria's second wave.
"I'm looking forward to seeing my friends and family again," she said.
"That's probably been the biggest challenge for me. I'm a big family person and it's absolutely heartbreaking not being able to see them."
Stood down from her job as a barista when her city cafe closed, Colvin might've gone crazy. Instead, she got off the couch and behind the wheel as a delivery driver for an independent grocer.
"I was going a bit stir-crazy and I'm not one to sit home and do nothing... now I drive around in a van every day," she said.
"It's a bit of fun and I felt like I was a normal person again. I felt so much happier and I feel like I'm giving back to the community as well. A lot of people were elderly or more vulnerable. And sometimes people would say, 'You're the first person we've seen in days!'"
The Demons have had seven list changes including losing Aleisha Newman (Collingwood) and Elise O'Dea (Carlton), while picking up six draftees and a rookie.
"They'll be missed but I think we can fill their spots," Colvin said.
"There's some exciting new talent coming through. These girls, they've been playing since they're young and they look very comfortable out there."
As for her own game, the half-back-flanker said composure with the footy and continually improving her kicking are the two goals.
AFLW hopes to begin a nine-week home-and-away season in February, plus three weeks of finals.
However, the fine details of the competition are likely to be finalised towards the end of November, depending on border restrictions and health rules.