Kristy Whitehead signs for Port Melbourne

Whitehead, who captained the Murray Bushrangers last year, played her club football at Wodonga Raiders and has been tipped to go all the way to the AFLW.

The 18-year-old, who also played netball for Corryong, has just finished Year 12 and can't wait to start the latest chapter in her sporting story.

"I'm so excited," Whitehead said.

"If you'd told me this two months ago, I would have laughed at you.

"One my ex team-mates from Bushies sent me a message this year asking if I was interested in having a game because (Port) wanted to strengthen their connection with Bushies.

"I wasn't 100 percent sure if Port was the place I wanted to go, so I tried out for a couple of other VFL clubs as well but I ended up falling in love with Port and the atmosphere there.

"I went down with the mentality of 'what's the worst thing that can happen?'

"When they said they were offering me a contract, I was shocked and extremely humbled. I can't wait to crack down next year."

Whitehead will be available to play for the Bushrangers in 2022 when she's not picked by Port Melbourne.

"Kristy's a very skilful player," assistant coach Mario de Santa-ana said.

"She usually plays off half-back flank, she loves to run and she's a high motivator, hence why she was a captain with us the year before.

"We expect her to keep developing and it wouldn't be surprising if she got an opportunity in the AFLW in a couple of years' time."

Whitehead's parents encouraged her to take up football when she was 14.

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"I was playing netball for the under-15s and once I got off the court, Mum gave me the jumper," she recalled.

"It was round one and she was like 'they're short, you've got to fill in.'

"I knew all the guys and they were super welcoming. They were just happy to have an extra set of hands!

"I was one of the first girls to ever play in our league. At that stage, it wasn't really 'cool' to play footy and I struggled with that initially. I didn't think I could do it but everyone took me in with open arms and the parents were so supportive of me.

"I've always had a ball in my hand, so marking is something I've done since I was four. When I look back on it now, I'm like wow, that's so cool (being one of the first girls to play) but I didn't think anything of it at the time.

"The Upper Murray league has picked up a lot more girls now. There's four or five girls in most teams so to look at the transition from me being forced into playing footy to now having heaps of girls put their hand up and say can I 'please have a kick?' is pretty cool."

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