Following an exhilarating 2022 VFLW season, Tahlia Fellows will now be an inaugural AFLW Hawthorn Hawk.

In exciting news for the Casey Demons’ VFLW side, star forward Tahlia Fellows has signed on to become an inaugural member of the Hawthorn AFLW side.

Fellows’ breakout season in 2022 was rewarded by the Hawks, who have signed the 22-year-old on a two-year deal.

This gives Fellows the chance to realise her AFLW dream, becoming a listed player at a club that will play its first season in the AFLW in August.

“It’s very exciting – it’s been surreal,” Fellows told Casey Media. “I don’t think it’s really hit home yet. I’m very excited to become part of a brand new club and an inaugural team, it’s special.

“It’s bittersweet leaving Casey but it’s with good intentions. The club has been so supportive and I wouldn’t be where I am without the coaches, support staff and players.”

Casey VFLW coach Peter Mercoulia said the news is incredibly exciting and that the signing gives Fellows a chance to realise her AFLW dream.

“It’s a well-deserved opportunity through hard work and dedication to her football,” Mercoulia told Casey Media. “Not only through the on field but through the Casey community too and what she does both on and off field to make other people’s lives better.

“She’s proven this year that she’s AFLW standard through her level of consistency. For us personally we wish her all the best at Hawthorn and can’t wait to watch her play this AFLW season.”

The Demons’ coach also praised Hawthorn for recruiting Fellows and welcoming her into the fold.

“Well done to Hawthorn too for being able to identify the talent that she is and for being able to bring a person of her calibre in there,” Mercoulia said. “It means they have good people in there that she relates to.”

Hawthorn AFLW list manager Mitch Cashion said Tahlia “great speed” makes her an “X-factor player that Hawthorn fans will love”.

The news means Fellows will no longer pull on the red and blue, as she now turns her attention to the upcoming AFLW season for Hawthorn, which begins in August.