Like many up-and-coming footballers in the men’s and women’s games, Hawthorn draftee Laura Elliott was drawn to Aussie Rules via her siblings.

Initially, it was her brother who she followed to her local Auskick centre one day before playing with her older sister at the Coburg Lions as a teenager.

Elliott said her sister in particular has played a big role in getting her to where she is today.

“(My sister) is a really good player who I really look up to,” the 17-year-old said.

“I hope I can develop myself to be a role model like her.”

Overall, the Elliott family rode every bump in the road with Laura in anticipation of the AFLW Draft.

“It’s been a nervous couple of weeks,” the defender admitted.

“Everyone was so excited and pumped, but I didn’t want to jinx myself.

“It was good to hear my name get called out so I could stop stressing about it.”

Not only was it relieving to hear her name called out by the Hawks, but it was also relieving to know she would be in the brown and gold alongside fellow Western Jets premiership player Charlotte Baskaran.

Baskaran and Elliott were two of the best players on the ground in the Jets’ nail-biting Grand Final win over the Dandenong Stingrays and have formed a close bond since being in the program.

“We texted each other good luck before the draft and then we ended up on the same team,” Elliott said of Baskaran.

“It’s amazing to have someone I’m so close with on the team.”

So, what can Hawthorn fans expect from Elliott in the brown and gold?

“Marking, kicking and reading the play are my strongest attributes,” she said.

“I think those three things took my game to the next level in recent years.”

Despite growing up as a Western Bulldogs supporter, Elliott is now ready to begin what is hopefully a long career in Hawks colours.

“Hawthorn is a great club and I’m happy to be part of it,” she said.

“I’m stoked for the opportunity.”