The long-awaited homecoming of Shay Evans almost mirrored her brief Sydney FC debut.

That was the moment the Young Matildas vice-captain arrived on the pitch as an 82nd minute substitution to a rousing ovation against Western Sydney Wanderers.

A Marra woman from Yanyuwa Country, Evans's recent return match was somehow just her sixth appearance for the Sky Blues since first signing nearly four years ago.

"I'm just happy that I came back," Evans said on the Sydney FC YouTube channel.

"I'm really excited to see everyone again and just be able to stay and play for another season."

A lot has changed for the game's latest Indigenous rising star after that first match back in January 2019.

Namely the soccer competition's rebrand from W-League to A-League Women.

But additionally, not only has the 21-year-old spent most of that time honing her touch around suburban pitches in the Sydney winters, but she also turned out for Adelaide United last summer in a shock transfer move.

Evans believes she has crossed back over the border better from a year at Hindmarsh.

"I was pretty young then and I was like still gaining that experience and being able to experience the A-League and what it's like," she said.

"You know coming in now, I have grown over the past years, and I am hoping to come in better, you know, really give it a shot this time and also grow more as well."

The striker has great memories of Sydney FC since former Matildas head coach Alen Stajcic spotted the 13-year-old prodigy crazily representing Northern Territory but at the national under-17 championships and quickly recommended Evans to the club.

The most cherished highlight among fans was scoring the first career goal in just the second career game.

Not that the very first John Moriarty Football program graduate, run by Australia's inaugural Indigenous Socceroo, has dwelled on that big-game moment.

Evans, who has followed the footsteps of Aboriginal football heroes Kyah Simon and Jada Whyman, has also scored for the Australia under-20s but in just her second cap.

"You know the goal that I scored? To this day, I still haven't watched it," she said.

"Yeah, well I am hoping to score some more this year.

"That season was a really great season for the girls and for myself, coming in and just being able to step in, experience what's it like to win and score a goal."