In her fourth year at the club and four rounds deep into season 2022, Sarah Rowe has been among our most consistent players each week.
It was clear Rowe was going to develop into something special when she was named best first-year player in her rookie season - the same year she picked up a Sherrin for the first time.
Though she's a natural athlete (competing in three different codes across two continents), the 26-year-old credits her seemingly effortless Aussie Rules transition largely to Tarkyn Lockyer.
"I can't speak highly enough about all the staff at Collingwood but someone who taught me an awful lot in my first two years was Tarkyn," Rowe said.
"The time and effort he put into myself and Sharni (Norder) when we were rookies is something I'll never forget.
"He was a brilliant coach and helped us so much with the fundamentals and our understanding of the game, he had so much patience with both of us.
"We were both devastated to see him leave the club but so grateful to have had so much time with him."
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Rowe said co-captain Bri Davey also inspires her, on and off the field.
"In the two years just gone I've learned so much from Bri," she said.
"She's an amazing leader and she has challenged my perspective on different things.
"She's not only helped me on the football field but in life in general - I'm very blessed to play with her."
With a 3-1 record heading into round five, the midfielder believes Collingwood has yet to play its best footy.
"We are focusing on the process and making sure we don't think 10 steps ahead," Rowe said of the playing group's mentality.
"We have players who have really matured, some of the younger players last year are becoming experienced players within our group.
"It's really pleasing to see that growth and those girls have added so much.
"So far we're doing ok - we're not at our peak yet and we believe there's more in us and we haven't reached our potential yet.
"That's what is so exciting about this group.
"Obviously the goal is to win a Grand Final but our biggest focus is on our game plan each week."
Rowe has a dual role at the club, balancing her training and commitments as a player with community work across the club's outreach programs.
"I absolutely love helping out in my community role at Collingwood," she said.
"I got involved initially because I had a broken season last year where my shoulder was giving me bother - it was dislocating throughout the season.
"It has always been important for me to gather experiences in other areas of my life outside of sport, so when sport ends I'm not lost.
"So much goes on behind the scenes at the club and it has given me a real appreciation for all the staff.
"I've loved getting to know the staff, understanding the club as a business and being involved in the day-to-day running of the club.
"Any opportunity to give back to the community is so rewarding."
On her double life (six months a year in Australia and six months at home in Ireland), Rowe said her two worlds are vastly different.
"I live in Dublin and play for Mayo, so I travel three hours to train twice or three times a week," she explained.
"(The league) is amateur at home versus semi-pro here, so when I'm in Australia I have access to these amazing facilities.
"At home I have my family and friends outside of sport whereas here Collingwood is my family.
"I'm so grateful for the environment and the culture we've created here.
"When I'm back in Ireland I miss the girls, the coffee, the beach and the brunches.
"When I'm here I miss my family a lot - I love them dearly."
One of her nearest and dearest in Australia is teammate, house mate and best mate Ruby Schleicher.
"Since I moved to Australia she's been there for me and she's like a sister now," Rowe said.
"I don't think there's anyone else in the world besides my sisters and family that I could spend as much time with.
"She's introduced me to loads of people and she's helped me understand the culture here."
Rowe said she values the honesty between them, which extends to performance and training standards.
"We are very honest with each other and care about each other a lot - she knows that I'll tell her straight and vice versa," she said.
"Ruby will pull me up on the field if I choose a poor option and if she doesn't jump in the pool or do recovery I'll call her out.
"Her footy IQ is really good which is so valuable for me.
"I want to see her do the very best she can - when she was named in the AA team it meant the world to me.
"When you see someone put in a lot of work and effort and get the rewards... I might as well have won it myself, I was that happy for her.
"I want to do my best for her and I think she wants to do the best for me too.
"That's what we all try to build in our team, that trust and care."
