Simone Nalder has spent a lifetime playing netball, but just a year into her budding football career she landed at the Essendon Football Club on Tuesday. 

Nalder was one of over 50 women to take part in the inaugural Essendon VFLW squad’s first training session in the club’s journey into women’s football.

“Tonight was really exciting, there was a massive buzz when I entered the building with the other girls,” Nalder said.

“It’s been a really good night, really exciting for everyone and we’re all really enthusiastic and pumped up for the season and the long pre-season ahead.”

Nalder said it was “really overwhelming” to be addressed by CEO Xavier Campbell and senior men’s coach John Worsfold as the players were welcomed to the club.

“I didn’t expect it to be that kind of welcoming, I thought we’d come in and (coach Brendan) Major would dress us all and then we’d get stuck into it,” she said.

“It was a little bit surreal to have that happen in the rooms where the boys get addressed.”

After a stint in the AIS and spending several seasons in the Australian Netball League, Nalder was invited to train at the Darebin Falcons VFL team at the start of 2017.

Having impressed in her first season of football with the Falcons, Nalder was contacted by old university friend and ex-Western Bulldogs player Lauren Morecroft about joining the Bombers’ squad.

Among the squad are former Darebin teammates and other members of the VFL Academy program in which Nalder took her part this season.

“It was really nice to see some familiar faces”

“There’s some really experienced girls here and definitely some up and coming, developing girls, so I’m looking forward to jumping into the mix.”