Hawthorn defender Tamara Smith will this weekend create history, in becoming the first AFLW player to play 50 games in the brown and gold.
An inaugural Hawk, Smith was recruited from Geelong VFLW as an expansion signing ahead of the Hawks maiden AFLW season in 2022 (season 7).
In her maiden AFLW season, Smith played 10 games averaging 10.3 disposals and 8.1 tackles for the season and ranked fifth overall in the league, laying the equal most tackles in a debut AFLW season with 81.
In 2023 she made the switch to half-back and has since become one of the league’s most underrated defenders. Balancing high-intensity tackle pressure with lockdown defensive craft, she averaged 8.9 disposals and 5.3 tackles per game across nine matches.
She elevated her game even further in 2024, averaging 10.8 disposals and 5.9 tackles per game from 13 appearances, she played a key role in a season that resulted in Hawthorn's maiden finals campaign.
Her fearless nature and relentless team-first mentality were recognised by the club when she took home the club’s Most Courageous Player award back-to-back in seasons 2023 and 2024.
Her stellar 2025 campaign reinforced her status as a crucial pillar for the Hawks. Suiting up in all 13 matches, she averaged 11.1 disposals and 5.8 tackles per game.
A respected standard-setter on and off the field, Smith’s consistency was rewarded ahead of the 2026 season with her official elevation to the Hawks' leadership group.
She'll run out in game 50 at the Kennedy Community Centre on Saturday afternoon, as the Hawks take on the Western Bulldogs in the hunt for their first win at home.
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