WHEN Tessa Boyd decided to move to North Melbourne-Werribee for the 2025 rebel VFLW season, there were some big shoes to fill.

After 30 games across three seasons with the Southern Saints – now Sandringham Zebras – Boyd established herself as one of the best rebounding defenders in the League, rewarded by inclusion in the Team of the Year in each of the last two seasons.

But that didn't mean stepping into North Melbourne's premiership-winning backline, taking the place of retired captain Jess Jones, and wearing her No.17 no less, wasn't a big ask.

"Obviously there's a lot of moving pieces coming in, there's a lot of new faces in the backline, and 'Jonesy' obviously played a really integral role last year," Boyd told the State of Play podcast.

"I actually had no idea she was retiring when I came into the team, so obviously it is nice to come into the team and, yeah, big shoes to fill, but hopefully we can do it for them and for the girls who won the flag last year."

When Boyd suited up in her first Roos guernsey last Friday for the rebel VFLW season opener, the side hadn't lost a match in 301 days, and there was a sense of expectation that it would be a genuine contender once again.

And she slotted into the team perfectly, gathering an equal-game high 24 disposals and winning nine intercepts in a best on ground performance.

"New club, so I was pretty eager to get the nerves out for round one," Boyd said.

"But I think, yeah, pretty much half a new team, so it was really nice to have some friendly faces out there, and some new ones as well… the girls are stoked with what we put out today, which is awesome."

The choice to change allegiances during the offseason was both a practical one based on lifestyle, and an opportunity to challenge herself. And North Melbourne was the lucky recipient of that shift.

"Southern Saints, was there for three years and obviously had a great time there, and still very close with a lot of the girls and staff," Boyd said.

"I actually moved house to Fitzroy, so it was going to be a pretty long drive, but, yeah, (I) just wanted to be a part of a program that was probably going to challenge (me) a bit more, and (I) wasn't going to be the focal point in the team which was obviously a big challenge for me in preseason and coming into round one.

"But a good challenge."