Aliesha Newman says amongst all the AFLW has become and achieved in a short time, one thing that stands out is its ability to make people feel included, supported and truly be themselves.

2026 is the first season of the competition without Newman, who retired after close to a decade in October last year after a career at Melbourne, Collingwood, Sydney and GWS.

The current season won't be without the proud Ningy Ningy woman's contributions, however, with her artwork adorning Sherrins to be used throughout the W's Pride Round over the next two weekends.

It's the seventh competition-wide dedicated period recognising the contribution of LGBTQI+ communities to the competition, and celebrating inclusion, diversity and belonging.

Individual pride games date back slightly further into the very early days of AFLW.

All 18 clubs will don specialty designed guernseys for rounds nine and 10.

"I think it's an incredible opportunity to be able to showcase what the (AFLW) do really well, in making people feel connected, supported, and feel like they belong. And it is something that the AFLW do extremely well," Newman told National Indigenous Times.

In reality, it's something the competition does all season long, she added, but with an extra bit of detail during the desiccated Pride Round.

Newman said the environment she first walked into at the Dees at the start of her career, and the start of the AFLW, is a part of the reason she was able to play her football, and life away from the field more broadly, with the confidence she did.

It's one she has no doubt is there at every other club across the competition.

Newman's also proud to be a part of a game, the AFLW, creating an environment open to everyone.

This is heightened particularly during Pride Round.

"It's a really cool opportunity to be able to not only give someone — the opportunity to enjoy the sport...but also enjoy the environment and feel comfortable," the 2018 goal of the year winner said.

"It is something that I'll forever be proud of. To be able to be a part of the sport for so long...and the community and sense of pride that it brings to those that are watching.

"We're (AFLW) being a whole new kind of environment and community to the sport, which is also extremely exciting."

Newman's Pride Round game ball design literally stamps messages of acceptance and joy into the game.

At focal points are words like 'Love', 'Authentic', 'Unapologetic' and also 'Love is Love', with hearts and flowers also featured.

Something a little different than what's been seen before was what Newman had in mind for the footy.

"There's a couple of words on there that I resonate a lot with, but also, I can probably speak for a lot of the W, that they also resonate with them as well... (They're about) understanding that your sexuality isn't a straight line", Newman said, with the lines in the design reflecting this fluidity.

Newman also wanted it to represent fun, "because football should be fun, and the fun environment that pride brings as well".

Asked what she wants a player to know when they have the ball in their hands, Newman answered ultimately "that they belong".

"And they feel connected and supported with whatever whatever environment they're in, whether it's on the football field, out in the community," she said.

"It's making sure that here's a fun element, but also that sense of belonging and being able to be themselves without questioning anything else."

It's not the first time Newman's art has been on display in footy. During her career she designed Indigenous Round guernseys at more than one club, hand-painted boots for teammates and other players across the men's and women's competitions, created AFLPA First Nations Strategy artworks and also founded Jippi Jippi Dreaming, a business for commissioned works.

Newman currently works with the GO Foundation in Sydney.

As finals approach in the first AFLW season since retirement, she said there's been opportunity to reflect on her 10 seasons as a player.

She said the growth in women's footy from the top level and through the pathways is what stands out most.

Some clubs aren't as dominant as they once were, and other contenders are emerging as standards continue to lift, she said, but some of the first to run out in an AFLW game are still leading the way, which is exciting to watch.

"It's really nice to be able to kind of sit back and and understand that you had an impact from the very start," Newman said.