Hawthorn defender Tilly Lucas-Rodd will play their 75th AFLW game this Sunday when the Hawks host the Lions in their maiden Qualifying Final at IKON Park.
The 28-year-old is having a standout season for brown and gold in 2024, with a shift to defence under Daniel Webster seeing them average 21 disposals, six intercept possessions, five rebound 50s and five tackles a game.
Lucas-Rodd, who was the club's inaugural AFLW captain, becomes the third Hawk to achieve this milestone, after Kaitlyn Ashmore reached 75 games earlier this year and Emily Bates last season.
Selected by Carlton with Pick 99 in the AFLW's first draft, Lucas-Rodd begun her career at Carlton in the league's inaugural year, going on the play 18 games for the Blues before being delisted at the end of 2019.
Desperate to prove they still had what it takes to play at the top level, Lucas-Rodd spent a season with the Southern Saints VFLW team, where they took out the club’s best and fairest and earned a spot in the VFLW Team of the Year.
Lucas-Rodd was then thrown a lifeline by St Kilda, earning a spot in the club's inaugural AFLW side in 2020 (Season 4). During three seasons with the Saints, Lucas-Rodd was voted into the leadership group as co-vice-captain, before being named in the All Australian squad in 2022 (Season 6) and finishing runner up in the club's best and fairest in the same season.
With the Hawks making their start in 2022 (Season 7), Lucas-Rodd joined the brown and gold as star recruit and led the way as the club's first captain, before winning Hawthorn's inaugural best and fairest.
In 31 games for the Hawks to date, Lucas-Rodd has been among the club's most consistent performers with their strong ball-winning ability and effective disposal, by foot and hand.
Lucas-Rodd spoke to the media on Thursday morning ahead of their impending milestone where they said it was exciting to have reached their 75th game and a full circle moment training at IKON Park this morning.
“It’s pretty cool to get there. I think being at IKON today this is where I started my career spent three years there and then at Saints, so it’s been a long journey to be there,” Lucas-Rodd said.
“I’ve had ups and down obviously, with being delisted at some point in my career and then getting a lifeline at the Saints and being able to perform pretty well, and then coming over to the Hawks.
“I haven’t really reflected on it yet but coming in today it was actually quite a nice moment coming back to where my career started.”
Hawthorn fans can cheer on Lucas-Rodd in their 75th game and the Hawks Qualifying Final against Brisbane this Sunday November 10 from 1.05pm AEDT at IKON Park.
Tickets are still available to purchase HERE or you can watch the broadcast on Channel 7, Fox Footy and Kayo Sports.
Watch Lucas-Rodd’s full press conference below.
