LOUISE Stephenson received a friendly text message from Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman after returning from injury to make her NAB AFL Women's competition debut in Greater Western Sydney's five-point win over Melbourne last Friday.

But that's about where the star utility expects the niceties to end, considering she will line up against her former colleague's Magpies at Olympic Park Oval in Melbourne on Sunday.

Stephenson, one of five Victorians who moved to Sydney for the first season of the AFLW competition, was an assistant coach to Siekman and Carlton coach Damien Keeping for Victoria Metro in the AFL youth girls' national championships last year.

Both congratulated the Giants' priority pick on her recovery from injury. Siekman added: "Can't wait to see you next week".

Yet as Stephenson experienced against the Demons, who fielded several players she had previously coached and played alongside, friendships are thrown out the window once the ball is bounced.

Stephenson, 21, plays for Melbourne Uni in the VFL women's competition. She has coached and played with Melbourne teenagers Lily Mithen and Deanna Berry, but the intensity of their battles last Friday suggested anything but the close link they share.

"It was funny coming up against them," the forward said.

"I gave Lily a bit of banter and matched up with her on the wing but she gave me nothing. I was like, 'Wow!'

"But you've just got to see the jumper when you're out there. That's all I try and see. Week-in week-out I'm playing against girls [I know]. It's one of the funny things about AFLW."

The same thing will happen on Sunday, when the Giants take on the in-form Magpies.

"There's Alicia Eva, Nic Stevens, Cecilia McIntosh and a few other girls I've played footy with before. It's hard to know what to do," Stephenson said.

"I'm very close with Alicia, but you've got to take that emotional side out of it and just play. There's still that friendly side to it but when the game starts it's on."

No matter the opposition, Stephenson is relieved to be able to play after suffering a severe knee injury in the pre-season.

"I put my name up for the draft and the Giants took me as a priority selection. The opportunity was great and I've loved being here," she said.

"The club is really passionate about women's footy. It doesn't feel like we're an add-on, it feels like we're completely ingrained in the club.

"It's something I've never experienced before."

Stephenson's helped the Giants to their historic first AFLW victory.

"It was an amazing night and I was just so happy to be there and be on the field," she said.