WATCHING the Paris Olympic triathlon on her couch in Adelaide, Jo Miller was thinking about what it would be like to take part.

As a former triathlete, she reminisced about the sport she’d left behind four years ago despite finishing on the podium in more than a third of her 36 starts.

Little did she know that days later she would be called into an office at Port Adelaide’s headquarters at Alberton and offered an AFLW contract.

With utility Indy Tahau ruled out for the season as she rehabilitates a long-term knee injury, an injury replacement spot on the Power roster opened up – an opportunity Miller jumped at.

“I was fairly shocked,” the 25-year-old smiled after having her first photo shoot in the Power colours. “I wasn't expecting to walk into the meeting room as a train-on (player) and then walk out having signed a contract so it was a complete shock but certainly a nice surprise, that's for sure.”

It was not a textbook journey into the AFLW for the Queenslander. She only decided to try the game after giving up triathlons and being pushed by her brother to join a new female side at his QAFL club.

That was back in 2021. Three years and three cities later, she is hoping to suit up for the Power in 2024.

“I was doing triathlon up until 2020, and then hung the tri suit up,” Miller explained.

“My brother plays footy for Redlands in the QAFL in Brisbane, and he said to me, ‘why don't you just come down and have a kick around at the new girls team that was being put together at Redlands’. The rest is kind of history.

“I did a year there and then joined Coorparoo Football Club in Brisbane, and then decided to go up to Darwin and have a bit of fun up there and play some footy, which was an unreal experience.

“The stars aligned to move down to Glenelg and they've just been truly amazing with helping me develop as an athlete. I don't think I'd be here today without the support I had there. It’s crazy I’ve only played four seasons of footy and here I am.”

Miller spent the pre-season as a train-on player with Port Adelaide, after impressing with Glenelg in the SANFLW.

With the Bays she averaged 23 disposals, six clearances and 10 tackles per game after only making her league debut in Round 6.

Now 25, she is driven to make the most of her AFLW opportunity, told by coach Lauren Arnell to “bring that engine” and “go hard attitude”,

“I think like life experience kind of helps,” Miller said. “And having gone through the process of being kind of a professional athlete in that triathlon space certainly helps with the expectations of being at this level, but at the same time, it's not every day that a mature-age footballer gets given this opportunity so I'm going to definitely make the most of it.

“If there's one thing I could say to this club and this group, it's that I'm willing to put in the hard work, and I want to get better each and every day and develop into the best athlete I can be.

“Hopefully I can become an asset for this this team and the club.”

While she still has an interest in triathlons, so serious is she about playing AFLW that she has cancelled a European holiday planned for September.

“I did watch the triathlon,” she smiled. “Luckily, it was on at a good time for us as a late afternoon.

“I still definitely follow. I’m a fan of Matty Hauser, and I think he's doing a phenomenal job. The (triathletes) are definitely very inspiring.

“If the time came, maybe I’d do another one. But for now, my focus is absolutely here – on being the best I can be for Port Adelaide.”