Maggie Johnson is honouring her grandfather's legacy at Old Collegians.

The 17-year-old will connect with her family's sporting roots when she pulls on Marty Ryan's guernsey for the upcoming Western Victoria Female Football League junior season.

Ryan was elevated to posthumous legend status at the Davidson Oval-based club in 2015 after years of service.

For his granddaughter, Johnson, football was always a dream sport.

The third-generation player crossed over from netball three years ago and hasn't looked back.

"It's really special, getting to wear my grandad's number and playing in his position," she told The Standard.

"The atmosphere is just really fun. I always wanted to play footy.

"I love netball but football has always been a bigger thing on my mind. With AFLW, and Collegians said they were going to have a team and I was like 'there's no way I'm passing that up'."

The talented defender said the Warriors' junior female ranks were growing as football emerged from its COVID-19 hiatus.

"We'd been struggling a bit for numbers but now the girls are getting pretty excited that the season is getting closer," Johnson said.

"I was so pumped and excited when we heard it was coming back.

"The girls have worked so hard so it would've been a shame if that went to waste so hopefully I can get to play with them. "We have some young ones this year and it was so good seeing them develop as players in the pre-season.

Johnson said the hype surrounding female footy had created a buzz around the city. "It's so crazy being part of one of three Warrnambool teams and seeing the league grow so much," she said.

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