Hawthorn Captain, league best and fairest winner, a premiership player, and that’s just a few of the accolades Emily Bates has earned in her 99 games so far.

This weekend Bates will run out for her 100th AFLW game after 11 years at the highest level, countless hours of sacrifice, hard work and an unwavering commitment to football.

Bates is a foundation AFLW player, having been part of the league since its inception. This weekend she becomes just the ninth player to reach the 100-game milestone.

Her football journey began long before the elite-level, under the guidance of her late father as coach, Bates joined the Yeronga Under 15s football team, where she won her first premiership.

In 2013 she was drafted by the Western Bulldogs (pick 44) to feature in the AFLW exhibition games, before the league was officially established in 2016. She was taken at pick 2 in the AFL Women’s Draft by the Brisbane Lions, where she went on to play 66 games across seven seasons.

Following her trade to Hawthorn ahead of the 2023 season, the star midfielder immediately made her mark in brown and gold, taking out the club’s Best and Fairest in her first season.

It was the fifth club best and fairest of her career, having previously claimed four with Brisbane in 2017, 2020, 2022 (Season 6), and 2022 (Season 7).

Bates’ move to Hawthorn came on the back of a career-best 2022 campaign (Season 6), where she swept the individual awards by taking out the league Best and Fairest, the AFL Players Association MVP, and the AFL Coaches’ Association Champion Player award.

A trailblazer of the competition since its inception, Bates’ decorated resume also features a 2021 Premiership with the Brisbane Lions, alongside three All-Australian blazers earned in 2017, 2018, and 2022 (Season 6).

Appointed Hawthorn Captain in 2024, Bates went on to lead the club to its historic maiden finals appearance. Her stellar 2024 campaign was capped off by finishing runner-up in Hawthorn’s Best and Fairest while also taking home the Best Player in Finals award.

Her standards and resilience were further recognised last year when she was awarded Hawthorn’s Unbreakable Award, after continuing to lead her side through an injury-interrupted 2025 campaign.

As she prepares to lead the Hawks out for her milestone match this weekend, Bates reflected on an 11-year journey defined by consistency, leadership, and building a legacy at the highest level.

“I think it was always a dream to be a professional athlete,” Bates said.

“And then to do it for 11 years now and to finally reach 100 games, it's huge. But yeah, so many amazing memories along the way and just so many special people you meet along the way, as well.

“I think that's the evolution of AFLW, that early days, we were just so grateful to be here and grateful to get the opportunity, whereas now it's a professional competition and we're striving to play every team once and to get every player to be the best they can and have the opportunity to be full-time athletes.

“So it's been a massive evolution. I think just a dream come true for me to reach this milestone, and I still have a lot to go.”