Reliable Hawthorn defender Jenna Richardson will reach a wonderful milestone this Sunday afternoon, lining up for her 50th AFLW match when the Hawks take on GWS at Henson Park.

After multiple dominant seasons in the VFLW, Richardson earned her spot on Hawthorn’s inaugural AFLW list ahead of the club’s entry in 2022.

She made her debut in Round 6 of that year and quickly cemented herself as a cornerstone of the Hawks' defence, playing uninterrupted until an unfortunate injury sidelined her in Round 1 of 2025.

Along the way, the 25-year-old’s steady growth and influence have been undeniable.

Richardson finished runner-up in Hawthorn’s 2023 Best and Fairest, earned her first All-Australian squad selection in 2024, and was voted into the club's leadership group for the first time in 2025.

In 2026, Richardson continues to set the benchmark in the backline, averaging an impressive 15.1 disposals, 6.2 marks, and 254 metres gained per match.

Aerial dominance has long been the hallmark of her game.

Richardson led the entire league in total marks in 2024 (70 marks across 13 matches), and she currently sits atop the competition again in 2026 with 56 grabs through nine games, with her average of 6.2 marks per match also ranking number one overall.

In terms of intercept marks, she is ranked second in the competition with 3.2 per game, narrowly trailing teammate Lucy Wales with 3.3. 

Richardson also ranks third in the league for intercept possessions, with 8.7 per match in 2026. 

With this match, the young Hawk becomes just the fifth player to reach 50 AFLW games in the brown and gold, joining teammates Tamara Smith, Áine McDonagh, Jas Fleming, and Lucy Wales.

Away from the field, the classy defender is halfway through her Masters in Clinical Psychology, runs a coaching business called W Academy with Hawks Captain Emily Bates and is a support worker. 

Richardson uses her knowledge to sit on the player advisory group for the league's Brain Health initiative and lead Hawthorn's AFLW side as its AFLPA delegate, while previously, she volunteered on a Psychological Return to Play readiness study with the AFL. 

The Sydney Hawks faithful are encouraged to turn out at Henson Park to cheer on Richardson in her landmark match.

Fans nationwide can tune in live on Fox Sports and Kayo from 2:35pm AEDT on Sunday.