MOST of her teammates are in the process of adjusting to 'bubble' life, but for Jodie Hicks it's becoming old hat.
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The Hay-bred Greater Western Sydney Giants goal sneak is settling into training at Albury with her teammates ahead of the AFLW season.
The team will be based there for two weeks at this stage to give the team the best hope of satisfying government requirements to play a practice match in Victoria in January 16, before the opening game of the season against Fremantle in Perth on January 31.
While being away from the comforts of home, friends and family for an extended period could be daunting for some, Hicks is taking it in her stride.
The talented 22-year-old is also part of the Sydney Sixers set-up, with the WBBL campaign making her more prepared than most for the obstacles that likely lay ahead for AFLW players.
"I've really enjoyed it. I've been pretty lucky with my life situation which makes it easier for me to pack up and head somewhere if need be.
"I'm fortunate that I've already being in a hub for the cricket, I know what I need to bring and what to expect. But Albury's nice, I've been playing golf and fishing and it hasn't really changed my lifestyle that much.
"I know when to switch off and when to try and keep my life as normal as possible like it is in Sydney. I think I am a bit luckier than some of the other girls but they'll learn as they go, and we've got a lot of mature girls in our team who will be all over it."
"Everyone normally says they love the away trips where we spend more time together and that's the scenario we're in now, it's just a bit longer than usual.
Like everyone else we're waiting for the government restrictions day in, day out. We're in Albury for two weeks and we'll try and relocate somewhere else depending on the case numbers. We'll be ready for what comes next."
The Sixers are one of the perennial heavyweights of the WBBL but their campaign, as well as Hicks' personally, didn't go according to plan after they missed the finals.
Batting in the lower middle order Hicks made two golden ducks and a diamond duck in three innings, but has brushed that off in preparation for football season.
"It's a hard situation (coming in late in the innings) where sometimes you try and do a bit too much and it doesn't come off," she said.
"I've got to learn to adapt when I'm in a role like that and be better, and that's what I'll be working on over the pre season.
"Even though it wasn't the season we wanted I couldn't dwell on it too much. I didn't want to bring that performance to my AFL, so it's nice to switch off from one and concentrate on the other."
She feels she's in an ideal position to build on arguably her best season to date last year, given she has been afforded a chance to lock down one position.
"I feel like I've got more clarity with my role in the team which I haven't quite had in previous years, which has helped me have a better pre season. I had one of my better years last year and hopefully I can build on that," she said.
"I'm just playing one position (small forward) rather than being thrown around as a utility. You want to have versatility, but you also want to have a clear, distinct role."
Hicks said she has no plans to give up her hectic, year-round sporting schedule just yet.
But she hopes the continued growth of women's sport in the country may eventually force her to make a call.
"I really love playing both and hopefully the decision is made for me if they become fully professional one day and I won't be able to.
"Hopefully it's because of that, not because I've been dropped from one and have to play the other."
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