Jemmika Douglas was sitting in Tullamarine’s Virgin Australia Lounge, checked in and ready to travel with the Demons, when her footy future changed in an instant.

The newly-signed Crow had spent the week juggling opportunities with both clubs, as she waited to learn whether she had done enough earlier that week to secure the final list spot at Adelaide.

After training with the Crows before flying back to Victoria, Douglas spent Friday with the Demons, and was preparing to line up in the club's practice match against Port Adelaide.

Then, as she sat with the Melbourne squad waiting to board, her phone rang.

"Obviously I wasn't 100 per cent sure if this was going to happen or not, so I didn't want to shut down all possibilities," Douglas said.

"I did have an opportunity to play with the Melbourne Demons on Saturday, so I trained with the Crows on Wednesday, then flew back to Melbourne.

"I participated in a captain’s run with Melbourne on Friday, and I got to meet the team.

"I then rocked up to the airport on Saturday, checked in, and I was sitting in the lounge with the girls, and then I got the call saying the list spot at the Crows was mine."

The timing left Douglas trying to process the news while surrounded by Melbourne’s stars.

“I was like, 'how do I get my bag away from the plane?', 'How do I tell them that I actually can't go with them anymore because I just got picked up?',” Douglas said.

"I just let the list manager know and the head coach know, they were super happy for me.

"It was so crazy to be picked up by the Adelaide Crows while wearing Melbourne Demons gear.”

Earning a spot on an AFLW list has been a long time coming for the 20-year-old utility, who missed out on selection during her draft year.

Douglas grew up a footy-mad kid in Mildura and lined up with a local boys’ team from the age of five-14, before joining a women’s team a few years later.

Determined to give herself the best chance of reaching the elite level, Douglas moved to Bendigo in her draft year and joined the Pioneers in the Coates Talent League.

Despite not being selected at the draft, rather than dwell on the disappointment, Douglas got back to work.

She joined North Melbourne's VFLW program and played her role in the Kangaroos' VFLW premiership triumph last season, continuing to push her case at the state-league level.

This VFLW season, she has lined up in six games, averaging 18.6 touches a game, along with five marks and two tackles.

Douglas said the setback ultimately helped shape her into the person and player she is today.

“It was super tough, I'm not going to lie, just because I moved away from home for footy, and I put everything into footy that year,” Douglas said.

“I did play a lot of footy that year, and I was super content with how I played. I got to meet so many new girls and be a part of so many great teams.

“I didn't want to put my head down for too long, I needed to keep moving.

“If you just keep working and you want it bad enough, take every opportunity that is possible, and hopefully it happens one day.”

As for what Crows fans can expect, Douglas prides herself on her work rate and ability to drive the ball from defence.

“I am a hard worker on the field, and I feel like I have good run off half-back,” Douglas said.

“Wining a list spot means absolutely everything, it’s something I've been working towards for the past 15 years, so to be able to get given this opportunity to show everybody that I can play footy at this level is incredible.

“I can't wait to run out on the field in the Crows colours and play alongside the best and against the best.”

Adelaide opens its 2026 AFLW season against Sydney at Unley Oval on Sunday, August 16 at 12.05pm.

Tickets available here.