Passing the Torch is a new spin-off podcast series under the Credit to the Girls umbrella. It profiles the young players of the AFL Women's competition who will be at the forefront of the league over the next 10 years. Episodes can be listened to via the traditional Credit to the Girls feed, wherever you get your podcasts. 

FOR RISING Adelaide star Eloise Jones, football is all about balance.

The 24-year-old has found great solace in speaking up when she needs a break, returning to training the following session refreshed and re-energised.

"It's really important you look into yourself and realise what you need. I think my biggest thing is in the past, I'm someone who tends to hide or just pretend everything's all good," Jones said.

"As that progresses, it's going to be pretty bad for you. It's like one small event, then everything happens, and everyone thinks it's extremely blown out of proportion, 'why is she getting so upset over such a little thing?' I think it was due to holding everything in, and not being able to speak.

"I think for me, it was prioritising what I needed, whether that be going to 'Doc' (Clarke, senior coach) and saying, 'I'm sorry, I'm really flat and I just need a night off to reset, I just need a night in with my family, friends or partner to come back fresh'. I'm really fortunate that the club has always said family and friends are prioritised, and whatever you need to do mentally or physically to reset yourself is where we want to be.

"That's what I did. Whenever I was struggling, I'd reach out to him or Chelsea Randall and just say I needed a night off to relax and de-load my stress, and I'm fortunate they were so supportive and saw that's what I needed."

Eloise Jones tackles Georgia Patrikios during round 10, season seven, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos

Another person Jones leant on was then-head of AFLW development Jack Hombsch, a former AFL player himself, who has this year moved into the Crows' men's program.

"Having two seasons in one year was pretty challenging. For me personally, the mental load was a fair bit. I was coming into footy struggling a lot as well, and he could see that and I think my confidence was pretty low as well," Jones said.

"I came off an injury in the Grand Final (the season prior), I wasn't really fully fit, and I wasn't producing footy in the way I'd like to. I think he could see that. He made it his thing to put confidence in me, and boost me up and try and make me feel better where he could."