Last AFLW season, Jaimi Tabb watched the Crows AFLW team win the premiership from inside the fence, as one of Adelaide’s water runners.

Fast forward almost a year and Tabb will be running alongside those same players, but this time, as a teammate. 

The 18-year-old was selected by the Crows with Pick 53 in the 2019 AFLW draft, Adelaide’s fourth of the day.

Tabb’s experience working with the team drove her desire and served as inspiration in her draft year.

“It was so cool being on the field and being part of it without actually playing,” Tabb said.

“It really opened my eyes to what could happen.”

The 18-year-old grew up in the small country town of Moonta, playing all kinds of sport – including netball, basketball and calisthenics.

Three years ago, Tabb moved to Adelaide with her siblings, Jack and Jaida, for her education and that is where her footy journey began.

It all started by simply being asked to join an AFL 9’s competition.

From there, Tabb played for West Adelaide in the Under-17’s Talent Shield, made the South Australian side, moved to Woodville-West Torrens to play senior SANFLW and was a member of the AFL Academy.

Renee Forth and Jaimi Tabb

It was there that the tackling machine formed a special bond with one of her soon-to-be teammates.

“In the Academy, Renee Forth was my mentor and she also helped coach our Central Allies teams and led ‘Hufflepuff’, the group I was split into,” Tabb said.

“’Sparky’ has helped me a lot, she just taught me how to go about everything.

“It’s so surreal how I am her teammate now.”

Tabb and her new teammates will begin pre-season training on Monday, November 25.