Canowindra will be happy to see Alicia Earsman on Sunday.
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The Woodbridge five-eighth is set to return home for a blockbusting second round Western Women's Rugby League clash against the Panorama Platypi as her side attempts to go two-for-two after opening the campaign with a convincing with over Midwest.
But, for Earsman, Sunday's showdown is about much more than wins and losses.
The 22-year-old playmaker is amid her first season of full-contact rugby league and will have the chance to show her loved ones what she can do on the field.
"I was never allowed to play footy growing up," Earsman said.
"Mum would never let me play... she made me play netball. I started league tag when I was about 14 but had my first tackle game two years ago."
Earsman has played multiple seasons of last tag over the last few years but this is the first full year of tackle footy and she's absolutely the loving the physical challenge it's presenting.
"For me it's just so much better than league tag... there's so much aggression," she said.
"I love the idea of not being stopped by a tag. I've got most of the family coming out and a few relatives from out of town which is exciting."
And while she's excited to take the field in front of her family and friends - and help her teammates secure another victory - she knows her side has a tough challenge looming against what shapes to be a desperate Platypi group after the Bathurst-based contingent fell to Vipers in round one.
"We do have a bit of momentum but this is a completely new game," she said.
"They have some new players who are really handy so we need to just focus on this week's challenge."
A win over Panorama would propel Woodbridge towards the very top of the ladder and after coach Andrew Pull helped the team to a third-placed finish in 2019, Earsman thinks the group has what it takes to be regulars at the top of the table.
"We have the talent, for sure... for us, it's more of a self belief thing," she said.
"I honestly think that we can match it, if not come over the top of those bigger teams."
One of the ways Woodbridge can consistently move up on the table is by adhering to the structures put in place by coach Pull as the mentor has made a commitment to playing expansive footy in 2020.
"We just want to play eyes-up footy," she said.
"Throughout the game you game you can play to what the opposition gives you.
"We know that if we're in the green zone we can throw the ball around.
"We have a really talented bunch of girls who all have good, individual skills of their own."
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