From playing in the ruck and not understanding the rules to being on an AFLW list, a lot has changed for Jasmine Evans over the last three years.

A talented junior hockey player who represented South Australia at various levels, she watched on jealously as her brother played football until one day at 15, she put down the hockey stick and joined the Salisbury Football Club.

Soon fast-tracked into the SANFLW with Central District, she became a premiership player in her debut season and was drafted by Port Adelaide after her second.

Given her whirlwind time in the game, Evans is taking everything in her stride in her first few months at Alberton, preparing for her first AFLW pre-season.

“It's a really good group to be around,” the quiet and understated 19-year-old said of her new Power teammates.

“Everyone just wants the best for each other, and even in the gym, everyone just pushes each other and it's really motivating.

“Every time I leave, it's like I just can't wait to come back.

“I don't really know what I was expecting, but everyone's just so welcoming.”

The 166cm forward/winger caught the eye of recruiters for her ability to win the ball and use it well, including hitting the scoreboard when she gets a chance.

She booted 15 goals in 14 games for the Dogs in 2024, as well as averaging 10 disposals and three marks.

But it wasn’t always that way.

“When I first started playing, my friend's dad was the coach and I would kind of just run everywhere - I was playing ruck at one point and then playing midfield at the same time,” Evans said.

“I never really got taught how to play any position until my first year at Centrals.

“I tried footy because my brother always played, and I always felt a bit jealous watching him or dropping him off to a game.

“I loved footy straight away, but I started missing hockey a bit so the year after I played both and I had either training or a game every single day of the week. I was getting a bit burnt out and after that year going back to hockey, I just knew that I didn't like it anymore.”

Hockey’s loss was football’s gain, and while she doesn’t play anymore, Evans credits her hockey experience, including with the Port Adelaide Hockey Club, for helping with her footy.

“It's a very different game, I know,” Evans said. “But I've always sort of thought that because I've always played in like senior teams or state teams since being really young, I’ve always known the expectation of how hard you need to train and the stuff you need to do away from being at the club.

“Hockey has definitely helped me.”

Despite her tender years, Evans has already shown a propensity to stand up in big moments.

After making her SANFLW league debut in Round 1 of 2023, she booted a late goal to help her side win in just her third game, then kicked three goals in a quarter during the Preliminary Final later that season to guide the Dogs through to the Grand Final.

She finished the season as part of the SANFLW premiership winning team that also featured her now Port Adelaide teammate Caitlin Wendland.

Hearing her name called by Port Adelaide with pick 33 at December’s inaugural National Draft was more a hope than an expectation, in part because of her existing relationships with Wendland and a few other players at Alberton.

“I always had in my mind that if I went to Port, I'd know the most people there already compared to any other place,” Evans explained.

“But I honestly thought I was going to St Kilda because they had the pick before Port and my manager was saying if I was selected, it would be around that mark (in the draft).

“When I didn't go to St Kilda, then I had a bit of a feeling. I was probably a bit relieved as well, because I didn't really want to move states.”

While she has now moved into her own home with her partner and Golden Retriever puppy Max, she is happy to still be close to her four younger siblings and her parents, who she credits for giving her sporting opportunities growing up.

“I’m really grateful to my parents,” Evans said.

“(Despite having five kids) they always made it work and never complained.

“I was never late to anything, I never missed training or games.”