Jess Duffin is not afraid of the big stage and says finals time brings about a new sense of competitiveness.

“Finals are what it’s all about. The best players show why they’re the best in finals, no matter the sport,” Duffin told The Age. 

“I like it, because for me it’s a challenge to play your absolute best when the intensity goes up.

“I feel more relaxed playing footy. I still get the same nerves and that’s good, it shows you care. I found it really, really difficult to get out of my own headspace in cricket but with footy you can always relate back to the team.

“In footy I feel like when you make a mistake you have multiple opportunities to try and fix it, but in cricket if you’re out, you’re out and if you’re taken for a lot in an over it’s hard to come back from that.

“It’s exciting ... we’re in another final and playing against Collingwood who are in some really good form. We have to be good enough to beat the best and they’re our first test.”

The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos' star defender said game days have looked a little different since giving birth to her daughter, Georgie.

“Game day varies, when Georgie’s up, I’m up and that can be anytime from 5am to 8am,” she said. 

I’ll take her for a walk in the morning. It’s about her and I don’t really think about the game until I drive to the game. 

“The 3.10pm start is perfect, she’ll be there and might even sneak a sleep in at half-time.

“To have Georgie there, even though she doesn’t know what’s going on, is special. After the game I go and see her, she has a big smile on her face and you forget about the game straight away.”

Juggling the demands of being a mum and dual-elite athlete has its challenges, but Duffin embraces them. 

“Playing [after having Georgie] does feel a bit different. It’s a bit more difficult when you’re not sleeping, trying to get yourself ready for training, training then getting home at 10.30 at night and then you start again the next day. You feel a little lethargic,” she added. 

“I’m lucky with Chris and the support of my family I can kind of catch up at different stages of the week.”

Duffin has been ultra-consistent since returning to the North team earlier in the year, with the third-highest disposal efficiency of any player in the competition.