Dream comes true for Emily McGuire

NOT only is Swan Districts WAFLW star Emily McGuire focused on trying to help Swans into the Grand Final, but she is still coming to terms with earning a West Coast Eagles AFLW contract.

For someone still only 20 years of age, McGuire has packed quite a lot into her life already having worked with the Swan Districts Football Club on the Kicking Goals program in the Pilbara while also working with the Wirrpanda Foundation.

She has become a standout player with Swan Districts previously in the Youth Girls Rogers Cup competition and then in the WAWFL competition which earned her an opportunity to first play in the AFL Women's with the Fremantle Dockers.

She was taken by the Dockers with their fifth pick in the 2017 AFL Women's Draft and went on to put together some impressive performances during the 2018 season including winning a Rising Star award after kicking two goals on debut in a win against Melbourne.

While McGuire didn’t get to play in the AFLW season in 2019, she has continued to be a standout player this inaugural WAFLW season with Swan Districts.

The usual forward has played some impressive football again for Swans in attack but has also produced some strong performances in defence when put back there by coach Kara Donnellan.

She has been a big reason why Swans firstly qualified for the finals and are now just one win away from the Grand Final heading into this Saturday's preliminary final against Subiaco at Leederville Oval.

While that is McGuire's immediate focus, he has also recently received some life-changing news when offered a contract to be part of the West Coast Eagles' inaugural AFLW team in 2020.

She was recently presented her contract in a surprise meeting with coach Adam Selwood and she could scarcely believe what was happening.

The shock might have still not worn off completely, but McGuire is over the moon to now be locked at the Eagles as they embark on their first season in the AFLW competition in 2020.

"He (Selwood) just started asking me weird questions and I was a bit confused as to where it was going," McGuire said.

"But then he was like we have a contract to offer and I just started bawling my eyes out. I don’t know where the tears came from, but I was just really overwhelmed and I still am. I can't really explain the emotions that I felt, it just happened really quickly.

"I guess it kind of just showed how I felt in the moment and I'm pretty excited for it to happen now. It really is just like a dream come true and I can't wait to show what I can do, and keep on growing and improving."