Five years ago, Zoe Prowse set out on a mission.

That mission was to play in the AFLW.

She never lost focus and it took just two years for Prowse to become well known within the local football circle, earning a debut in Sturt’s SANFLW team at just 15.

She went on to be one of the Double Blues’ consistent performers and worked hard to ensure she was in front of AFLW recruiters’ eyes.

On Tuesday night, her dream was realised when Adelaide selected the promising utility with the Club’s first pick at the AFLW Draft.

Speaking to AFC Media, Prowse said she was proud to be joining the Crows.

 “There’s a lot of emotions going on but I’m extremely excited,” Prowse said.

“(I’m) also very nervous at the same time.

“It has always been a goal to try and get here.

“It hasn’t quite set in yet, it doesn’t seem real.”

At 177cm, Prowse is a versatile tall with a big vertical leap and athleticism to play in various positions.

She earned All-Australian selection as a ruck at the under-19 AFLW Championships in 2021 and was also named in the 2020 SANFLW Team of the Year.

The Oakbank teenager has been a member of the AFLW Academy for the past two years and is also a graduate of the Bridgestone Crows Next Generation Academy.

She said playing in the state women’s league from a young age helped fasttrack her development and made her ready for the rigors of the national league.

“The SANFLW season helped a lot, being able to go and train three times a week with Sturt, plus also the coaching staff there were really good at helping me achieve my best,” Prowse said.

“I played ruck the first year with Sturt and I knew that some of the girls I was playing against were double my age.

“That was quite scary and daunting at the time but I guess looking back on that now it really helped me a lot and made me develop as a player.”