Star Hawthorn ruck Lucy Wales will mark her 50th AFLW appearance this Sunday when the Hawks take on Brisbane at the Kennedy Community Centre at 1:05 pm.

An inaugural Hawk selected with Pick 22 in the 2022 national draft, the 23-year-old made an immediate impact in the brown and gold following earlier stints with Oakleigh and the Casey Demons.

After debuting in Hawthorn’s inaugural AFLW match, Wales featured in all 10 games of her maiden season.

Her rapid rise continued in 2024 with a breakout campaign that earned her a place in the All-Australian squad.

By 2025, she solidified her reputation as a vital leader on and off the field, taking out Hawthorn’s Players’ Player award and finishing third in the Best and Fairest count - an impressive feat despite missing the final five games of the year due to two major operations for a severe appendix injury.

Wales made a seamless return to action in 2026, voted into the club's leadership group before the season even kicked off.

Through eight games this year, she has been in career-best form, averaging 19.6 disposals, 17.9 hitouts (top 10 in the AFLW), 8.1 intercept possessions (ranked fourth), and 5.3 marks per game (ranked third).

Reaching this 50-game milestone in her fifth season highlights not only Wales' resilience, but also her status as one of the premier rucks in the competition, putting her firmly in contention for her first All-Australian blazer.