Inaugural and current West Coast Eagles captain Emma Swanson will suit up for her 50^th AFLW game this Friday night against Port Adelaide at Mineral Resources Park.

Swanson joined the Eagles ahead of the club’s inaugural AFLW season in 2020, following three seasons with Greater Western Sydney.

The West Australian local is highly decorated, having won back-to-back Eagles Club Champion honours in season six and season seven, after being named runner-up in 2020, and also named West Coast’s Trademark Player in season six.

To add to her accolades, Swanson is a three-time All Australian squad member, a three-time Peel Thunder Best and Fairest winner and a four-time East Fremantle Best and Fairest winner.

Swanson said she feels proud to be able to reach her 50-game milestone as an Eagle.

“50 games, I think it is a pretty special achievement,” Swanson said.

“At the moment, given where the competition has come from, I’m sure over the next couple of years as we start playing more games it will probably dwindle out a little bit and we will focus on the hundreds and the hundred and fifties.

“But to play 50 games, in a part-time competition, when way back when it started with just seven home and away games, and I’ve been riddled with a few injuries early on in my career, but to finally get to the 50, it’s really special and I’m really proud to be part of this footy club and be able to play with this footy club.”

Launching her career in the inaugural 2017 AFLW season, Swanson said seeing how far the competition has come and what it gives back to the community is a great achievement.

“Starting the journey in 2017, the first year, no one knew what it was going to be or what it was going to be like,” Swanson said.

“But the traction that it has gained, it’s super special to be part of a competition that has given so much.

“The football and playing football is one part of it, but giving so much to so many young kids out there, I’m just super proud that any young girl born from 2017 onwards has never lived in a world where women couldn’t play footy and I think that’s the proudest achievement.”

In her fifth year as captain, Swanson said she loves being a part of the developing squad and being able to help educate emerging players on how far the competition has come.

“I love leading this young group, it’s amazing,” Swanson said.

“I just love coming to work every single day, I would love it regardless of their age, but having such a young group, their energy and enthusiasm when you walk into the doors in unbelievable.

“They’re so raw, part of me enjoys that they don’t understand where the game has come from, and the other part of me loves educating them and telling them what it used to be.

“I love forming that connection, there’s times that it’s challenging and there’s times that I do feel old, and when you look closer into it, some of our lifestyles are so different.

“There’s such a varying age gap and I think it’s a really special thing that we can all bond over football and form these amazing connections that we will have for the rest of our lives.”

Bouncedown for Friday night’s clash with Port Adelaide is 7:15pm and the match will be broadcast live on 7plus, Fox Footy and streamed on Kayo.