Sport has always dominated the life of Adelaide two-time AFLW Premiership player Jenna McCormick.

Soccer was, however, McCormick’s first love and it led to her making her W League debut in 2012 with Adelaide United, before crossing codes to join the Crows in the AFLW’s inaugural year.

But after officially hanging up her Aussie Rules football boots five years ago, McCormick re-dedicated her time to the world game.

Having never wanted to give up on her sporting career, McCormick’s journey has come full circle and she’s back playing in the W League - this time with Brisbane Roar.

Speaking to AFC Media, the centre/back and attacking midfielder said she had enjoyed getting back into soccer.

“It (my life) has still been heavily soccer focused and that was my intention and my goal,” McCormick said.

“Now I find myself up in Brisbane, playing for the Roar this season.

“There’s also been a lot of ups and a lot of downs along the way, as you get with everything, but I have achieved my goals, which has been really pleasing.”

Despite reaching the ultimate prize during her AFLW career by winning two flags, there was one goal McCormick was yet to achieve - playing soccer for her country.

The opportunity to play for the Matildas became a reality in November 2019, when McCormick received the call up to the National Team to play a friendly against Chile, starting the game at centre-back where she helped Australia to a 2-1 victory.

She has gone on to represent Australia four more times, saying the feeling is indescribable.

“The main reason I left footy was to be able to go and represent the Matildas and represent my country and have those opportunities that I have been working for my whole career,” McCormick said,

“I made that decision and I went and did that and I was lucky enough to achieve that dream and that’s been the highlight of my career essentially.

“It’s nothing that you can really describe or put into words.

“In that moment, walking out and singing the national anthem was really emotional and was a chance to think about all those little moments throughout my life that had led me to that point.”

It’s nothing that you can really describe or put into words.

The dual-athlete’s soccer career also took her to Spain, where she was on the list at Real Betis, a side based in Seville, before joining Danish club AGF Fodbold in the Danish Women's League in 2021.

McCormick then returned to Australia to feature with Adelaide United in the W League during the 2022/23 season, before crossing to the Roar ahead of this campaign.

“I loved travelling and I loved challenging myself,” McCormick said.

“I’ve always persisted with environments to get better and there've been some really great moments and some challenging moments as well.

“I’ve learnt a lot about myself and it’s that risk and reward that’s been valuable, so it’s been a journey.”

Her AFLW career, meanwhile, spanned across 20 games for the Crows between 2017-2019, where she spent time as both a midfielder and forward, booting nine goals in her career.

While soccer is still her main focus, the 29-year-old says she is an avid Adelaide Crows fan, and keeps an eye on how the side is tracking.

“Absolutely, no doubt I am still following the girls and the boys as well,” McCormick said.

“I am still heavily involved from the sidelines or the couch, definitely following all of their games and was cheering them on when they lifted that Premiership again a few years ago.

“My partner who is Danish came to Australia for the first time in 2022 and we came out to the first AFLW Showdown and it was really good to show her what that other side of my life was for all those years.”

And the memories McCormick made during her three seasons at West Lakes are some she will never forget.

“You can’t go past the Premierships in 2017 and 2019, but both are so different in their own way,” McCormick said.

“That 2017 season was just so special and then being able to write our names in the history books of being the first champions, no one can ever take that away from us.

“2019 was even more special in its own way because we won the Grand Final at Adelaide Oval in front of 53,000 people, it just felt special in a different way.

“To this day I haven’t experienced a team like I had in those years I spent with the Crows and it is something that I am so grateful for because it has given my friends for life and experiences that I will never forget.”