The 26-year-old Goulburn Valley product is coming off a tumultuous 2025 campaign that saw her hospitalised with a serious illness for three weeks before making a remarkable playing comeback, Egan’s 43-game Richmond stint nonetheless ended after the Tigers opted not to offer a new contract.
But now into her seventh season and at a third club, there’s no doubt in her mind – footy is where she wanted to stay.
“If anything, it's made me realise how much I do love football, and how much support there is in this kind of world,” Egan said to the News.
“I worked so hard to come back last season to play, and then to have that taken away from me and not getting a contract, you have to really think about what you want and where you want to be.
“I never thought I would end up in Adelaide, but I’ve been pretty happy since the move.
“I found it a lot easier over here than I would have thought, and it's been a lot of fun having a new environment to start a fresh footy journey this year.”
Adelaide came calling in the off-season, and Egan has since thrived in a renewed half-forward-midfield role – averaging 16 disposals per game and making her presence felt on the scoreboard.
The new Crow was also bestowed a spot in the leadership group, and when you consider that Egan, drafted back in 2019, has been in the system for the majority of the AFLW’s 10-season existence, it’s unsurprising that her experience was highly regarded.
“Probably coming here, I'm classified as one of the older girls even though I'm only 26,” she said.
“It’s been nice to take the younger girls under my wing and play a bit more of a mentor role.
“I’ve found the Crows environment very much like a big country town footy club where everyone's involved.
“It's very family orientated, which is nice because I feel like you kind of lose that being in a big Melbourne club in a way.”
While admitting it’s harder not being “just a drive down the highway” from family, the support of the Egan clan is still keenly felt by the former pick 13.
And she says the difference between the Grace of today and the one Carlton selected back in 2019 is substantial.
“I've definitely come a long way from the beginning to where I am now,” Egan said.
“I feel like younger Grace probably needed that little bit more of a mentor type role, which I didn't feel like I had.
“Now I'm a bit older, I've had a bit of experience behind me; I’ve been through swapping clubs, the delisting, missing games, injury.
“I feel like I've learned a lot over my football career so far.”
It’s been a career embedded in grit and determination, and it seems those traits are shared by sister Holly.
The younger Egan currently competes for Fremantle, recently making her AFLW debut following a return from an ACL injury, and there could be a head-to-head contest between the two in round seven when the Dockers travel to Adelaide Oval.
“I was so proud of her because you see her go through all the hard months of repeat rehab sessions, and having to do rehab while we're trying to enjoy family Christmas,” said the elder Egan.
“But it was nice to finally see her live out her dream and run out alongside the Fremantle girls after a hard year of waiting and sitting on the sidelines.
“She’s going very well with the first three games and very excited to see where she takes her career.”
Egan’s Crows, currently 12th, are headed to Ipswich in round six to face Brisbane on a mission to claim their third win of the season.
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