WORK is always at the back of Amelia Mullane's mind.

In addition to being a tough inside ball-winner, Mullane is also a full-time IVF nurse. It's made balancing footy and a full-time job a bigger battle than most for the Carlton recruit.

Often throughout Mullane's first couple of years in the AFLW, training sessions were dotted in between 6am starts and 11pm finishes. Those same training sessions were also interrupted by the occasional call from a concerned patient.

On the field, Mullane – who formerly went by her maiden name Barden – joined Carlton from its arch rivals Collingwood during the most recent AFLW trade period.

But while making the choice to depart the Pies was a difficult one for Mullane, who was desperate to leave on good terms, work has always given her a sense of perspective.

On-call virtually 24 hours a day, the talented 25-year-old midfielder knows her busy schedule could be disrupted by her other job at any time. As it has been before.

"It's more answering questions and patients calling if there's any inquiries, but there have been times when I have to run off the track and call them back," Mullane told AFL.com.au.

"It's a bit annoying, because it's always in the back of your mind and you're always thinking about it. But most of all, you're just exhausted.

"You can't stop. Once you get going, you've got to keep going. Because when you stop, you get sick. It is tough, but it's all worth it.

"Sometimes after work you'll be tired and you'll think, 'I can't be bothered going to training'. But once you're here and you're around all of the girls and the vibe is up, you get out on the track and it's awesome and you don't think about how tired you are."

This season, Mullane has a new group to work with, having crossed to Carlton in June.

She was persuaded to switch clubs by new coach Daniel Harford during the off-season, having worked with him closely while at Collingwood. An assistant coach with the Pies, Harford returned to Ikon Park a couple of months earlier.

The pair caught up for a coffee just days after he had made the move, where the former Carlton and Hawthorn player sold Mullane the idea of a greater midfield role and how he'd continue to improve her game.

The easy-going and understanding personality traits displayed in that meeting are why those who have worked with Harford believe he is the ideal figure to lead the Blues into 2019.

"He's just such a good guy," Mullane said.

New Carlton coach Daniel Harford with No.3 draft pick Madison Prespakis. Picture: AFL Photos



"He makes it fun and he gets to know you on a personal level. It's just really good for your footy, because you want to feel comfortable. When he makes that effort to get to know you outside of footy, your footy is going to get better as well.

"He just knows how to go about delivering information and he knows how far he can push you before you break."

Fortunately for Mullane, there were a few familiar faces waiting for her at Carlton.

As well as knowing Harford and a few former Diamond Creek teammates, she also played with Nicola Stevens at Collingwood during the inaugural AFLW season.

But while she might have leant Stevens some advice as she made the move to the Blues a year prior, she didn't want that reciprocated when she was going through the same process.

"I didn't talk to anybody when I was making the move," Mullane said.

"I didn't even speak to family or anything, I just didn't know what to do. I felt bad in a way, because Collingwood was so good to me. But I just knew my best footy wasn't there.

"I had a lot of time to think about it, but once I made the decision it was a big relief and I felt really good about it."

Mullane and the Blues travel to North Hobart for a round one clash with the Kangaroos in February, but it's a round five game against the Pies that is circled on her calendar.

A crowd of 24,568 watched the old rivals meet in the first ever AFLW game in 2017, while 19,852 fans converged on Ikon Park to watch them do battle again last year.

Carlton's new recruit is looking forward to being on the home side of that match-up next March, hopeful of a similar turnout as she meets her former teammates for the first time.

"The first year I played here, I literally could not hear a thing," Mullane said.

"I'm pretty pumped. I feel like I'll be a bit nervous, but I reckon it'll be awesome. The ground looks amazing and it's such a good ground to play at. I always love coming and playing here.

"Plus I've got an upgrade on the changerooms as well."