Sharing the same field as three-time premiership player Simon Black has been hard for new Lions AFLW recruit Lucy Bellinger to get used to. The 26-year-old told lions.com.au despite being in Brisbane for more than a month now, she has still not fully registered the fact that she is on an AFLW list.

“Not really no, I take it day by day,” she said.

“I’m enjoying the surroundings and taking in Simon Black and Sauce [Daniel Merrett] and those characters being around training.

“Feels like a dream really.”

Bellinger grew up in Adelaide and was recruited to the Lions via Glenelg’s SANFLW team at the recent 2019 NAB AFL Women’s Draft with Pick No. 20.

Footy has been a lifelong passion for her, having played with the boys all through primary school before ultimately having to give it up and turn to other sports like basketball and rowing. At the age of 21 she started playing again but did not nominate for the draft until this past year.

“It’s been my dream for the last couple of years,” she said.

“I just thought, why not give it a crack?

“I thought I had a reasonably good SANFLW season and here we are.”

Lauren Arnell, now a teammate and fellow inter-state player encouraged Bellinger to nominate for Queensland at the draft. The pair had met when Arnell came down to South Australia and visited the Glenelg club.

“She’s mentioned how it changed her perspective on footy and she’s really enjoyed the last year up here,” Bellinger said.

The half forward considers her move to Brisbane as a sea-change and admits she is still adjusting to the humidity.

“It’s been a big change but I’m loving it,” she said.