She became an instant star as an imposing key forward, but Adelaide cult hero Sarah Perkins has reinvented herself as a midfield wrecking ball.
After a quiet start to the NAB AFL Women’s season in attack, Perkins was last weekend thrown into the midfield as a way of combating a quality Western Bulldogs onball brigade.
The shock tactic worked a treat – Perkins collected 11 possessions and was influential in freeing up other Crows midfielders on their way to a season-saving seven-point victory at Norwood Oval.
"I was probably a bit shocked when [coach] Bec [Goddard] asked me about it," Perkins told AFL.com.au.
"I'd probably been struggling a bit up forward, so I just wanted to give it a crack.
"To play in the midfield against Emma Kearney, Ellie Blackburn and Kirsty Lamb was pretty confronting, but I just played my role for the team."
Perkins had just four disposals in the Crows' first two games of the season and didn't hit the scoreboard.
It was a far cry from the impact she made last year when she was the second-highest goalkicker in the competition with 11 majors, led the competition in forward 50 tackles and was named in the Virgin Australia AFLW All Australian team.
Perkins went back to basics to recapture her best form, focusing on restricting the opposition when they had the ball.
"My inside 50 pressure is something I threw a lot into my game last year," she said.
"I hadn't done that a hell of a lot, so I knew I had to do that in and around the contest in the midfield, but also provide a bit of a physical presence that would free up (Ebony Marinoff) to get clear space and get those clearing kicks out.
"At one stage, it was myself, (Erin Phillips) and (Marinoff) in the middle.
"If I could be that bigger body to free up space for them, I was more than happy to do that."
Perkins doesn't know if the move was a one-off, or something the Crows will go with again against Greater Western Sydney at Blacktown International Sportspark on Sunday.
What she does know is how to stay positive as a way of getting back on track.
"When things aren't going your way, you start analysing a bit too much," Perkins said.
"That's something we were all doing the first couple of weeks.
"I took a do-or-die mentality into the game, knowing I needed to play my role and I needed to step up for the team.
"Thankfully, I was able to do that."