It's been a big month for Eloise Hiller-Stanbrook, the Central West product having first faced off with the Sapphire Coast as a key part of the inaugural AFL Central West Women's team, and now having been called up to feature as part of the combined NSW/ACT Eastern Allies side in the Under 18's AFL Championship.
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While the Eastern Allies didn't come away with the top honour, being bested by the powerhouse Victorian Metro side in the final round, the tough competition was still a pleasant experience and a welcome challenge for Hiller-Stanbrook.
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"It was a bit challenging, because they were all so good, but it was almost surreal, probably some of them are going to go on to play in the WAFL and I can say I played against them," Hiller-Stanbrook said.
"It's a bit overwhelming [having these two representative opportunities so close together], but it's really cool."
She also welcomed the experience boost, with the relatively inexperienced player getting a chance to learn a lot about the game on the field from the various different regions she was playing alongside and coming up against.
"I've only been playing for a little while, so I wasn't too comfortable with some of the positions, but it was good to get that exposure to different strategies and tactics, and the higher standard they played to."
"It was a really great experience."
Head Coach, Steve Mahar told afl.com.au that he was proud of how his team had competed during the contest, with Hiller-Stanbrook earning specific praise after a particularly gruelling match.
"Eloise Hiller-Stanbrook played exceptionally well," said Mahar.
"She competed hard in the ruck and gave us first use of it."
Hiller-Stanbrook welcomed the praise, which she admitted she was slightly surprised by given the caliber of players in the competition.
"It feels pretty good to get that kind of praise, I didn't expect it because our teams' got so many amazing girls," She said.
"It was a tough game, very muddy, kind of a swamp, but we got stuck in, really enjoyed it and it was probably one of the funnest games I've ever played."
"It was a pretty amazing trip overall and I was so pleased to get the opportunity, it really felt like a family the girls are so amazing."
She also thanked the Dubbo Demons, who she first cut her teeth with.
"The Dubbo Demons played such a big role in getting me started, I'd never played AFL before them and when I joined that club, they were so welcoming and now this sport is just everything to me."
