A premiership player and a lifelong Hawks supporter, Casey Sherriff will this weekend notch up 50 AFLW games.
Sherriff’s 50th appearance at the top level, comes in what will be just her second game in the brown and gold.
The bulk of her career has been spent with her former club Melbourne, having played 48 games for the Demons from 2018- 2023.
After starting her football journey with the Casey Demons in the VFLW, Sherriff was elevated to the AFLW list in September of 2018 as a replacement player.
From there, Sherriff put in the hard yards to make her league debut in Round 1 of 2020 season.
Sherriff’s most notable achievement to date is the 2022 (Season 7) premiership with the Demons, taking the win over the Brisbane Lions.
Joining Hawthorn in the 2023 trade period, Sherriff was sought after for her speed and endurance, an ideal recruit to bolster the Hawks midfield.
Sherriff has played one game with Hawthorn so far, having made her club debut in last weekend’s 2024 season opening victory over the Blues.
The 26-year-old made an immediate impact for the Hawks, having kicked two goals and accumulated 15 disposals.
Sherriff reflected on her football journey so far in an interview with fellow milestone player, Aileen Gilroy.
She detailed one of the pivotal moments that shifted her mindset and allowed her to get to this point in her career.
“I think my first season at Melbourne I was very young and naive,” Sherriff said.
“I came into the season thinking that I was probably going to play most of the games, and I didn’t get picked for my whole first season of my career, which I think I needed that.
“I was super unfit, and I couldn’t kick or anything and that whole off-season after my first season I spent trying to work on my fitness and my kicking and I came back fitter and stronger and my skills were a lot better.
"But I think if I didn’t experience that in my first season, I wouldn’t have done anything to change how I went about it and I think that’s made me the player I am now.”
Sherriff said the connections she has made at Hawthorn to date have been important, with the group on an exciting journey in 2024.
“I feel like the way we play reflects how we are, our personalities, like we’re all willing to go out there and do things for each other and that reflects on the field,” she said,
“That just makes it so exciting for me to be here, because I’m a real selfless person and I like when my teammates are the same.”
Sherriff was thankful to those who played a big part in her career to date.
“Obviously I’d like to thank my parents for starters, I feel like my whole life they’ve sort of pushed me with any sport and they’ve always driven me hours and hours to get me to wherever I need to be, and I probably wouldn’t be here without them,” Sherriff said.
“I’d also like to thank the Melbourne Football Club, they’ve been there for 48 games of my career and I wouldn’t be the player I am today without them.
“And the Hawthorn Football Club obviously too, I’m really enjoying my time here and I am honestly glad I get to play my 50 games at this club.”
Hawthorn Senior Coach Daniel Webster said Sherriff has been massive since her arrival at the club.
“Sherriff has come in and is playing a midfield role for us and just provides a lot of drive and run. A great ball user, but a great person as well, she’s fun to have around the club, she’s cheeky which is good,” he said
“I think where she can go with her game and where I think she’ll get to this year will be at a very high level so I’m really excited to see that journey.”
Watch Sherriff’s highlights from her career to date.
