Horsham's Nekaela Butler and Ararat's Ella Wood are a chance to take to the iconic Princes Park for Richmond's first AFLW game against Carlton on Friday night.

Butler and Wood joined the Tigers in October's national draft, ahead of the club's inaugural season in an expanded 14-team competition.

Butler said she had been pinching herself ever since.

"I've enjoyed it so much. It's literally a dream come true what I'm doing right now," Butler told the Mail-Times on Thursday morning.

"I can't believe it. It's been so much fun."

While the pair weren't sure if they would line up for round one - teams were released on Thursday evening - being members of Richmond's first AFLW squad carried more than enough excitement.

"I don't really care if I get named this week," Butler said.

"It's just the experience. To be around it, going to the ground to watch everyone else play, and everyone around the club getting really excited ... I'm just happy to be a part of it."

Butler said the move from Horsham to Melbourne, and an intense pre-season, was made easier by her supportive teammates.

"It has been very intense. We're all at an elite level now, so all I can do is really push myself and try to get better," she said.

"The club has also provided me with a host family down here, so it's been really easy to settle into it all.

"The best part has been the girls and my teammates, who have all just been so supportive and helped me so much."

Meanwhile Horsham Saint Rene Caris and former Ararat Storm junior Georgia Clarke kick off their seasons' with Geelong on Sunday against Fremantle.

Clarke said she felt as though there was more pressure on the duo entering their second year in the competition.

"It's a lot different to last year," she said. "I think being a second year player, you might be expected to do that little bit more, and have a little bit more expected of you.

"It will be interesting to see how we all go in the expanded competition."

Former Horsham basketballer Sophie Alexander enters the opening round under an injury cloud, after being forced from the field by a bad cut above her eye in Collingwood's practice match against Melbourne.

Her Collingwood Magpies host league newcomers West Coast on Sunday.

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