South Warrnambool export Renee Saulitis booted two goals in Greater Western Victoria's round one win

The 16-year-old Cats fan got to cheer on Geelong in its thrilling one-point debut win over Collingwood in January at GMHBA Stadium.

And then Saulitis, a forward flanker, booted what turned out to be the winning goal in Greater Western Victoria's opening round NAB League win over Bendigo on Saturday. 

The former South Warrnambool player slotted her first major seven minutes into the first quarter before snagging another one in the third quarter to put the Rebels up by 11 points.

And while the Pioneers looked threatening with the only goal of the final term, the Rebels did enough to carve out a 4.3 (27) to 3.4 (22) victory. 

"It came down to the wire," Saulitis said after the game. 

"But it was great to get a first win under our belt."

Saulitis, who admitted to still getting a few nerves when running out for the Rebels, said the key to winning was applying early scoreboard pressure. 

"There were really strong winds all game," she said. "But we had the wind behind us in first term, so it was good to kick a few and then just keep at it."

Saulitis said she would wind down after the game by watching her ex-Rebels teammates Sophie Van De Heuvel and Georgia Clarke battle it out for the Cats against the Brisbane Lions in Queensland. 

"It's my dream to play AFLW," Saulitis said. 

"And watching those two (Van De Heuvel and Clarke) reminds me it's all possible."

Saulitis, who attends boarding school in Ballarat, will play for Lake Wendouree in the Ballarat Football Netball League this year, having crossed over from Ararat Storm.