The Western Bulldogs will celebrate another stalwart this weekend, with midfield bull Kirsty Lamb set to become the Club’s second player to reach 50 AFLW games.

Arriving at the Kennel ahead of the inaugural season via pick 138, it’s fair to say Lamb could be one of the biggest draft steals.

She was the first girl to notch up 100 games for Yarrambat Junior Football Club, and played cricket with the Melbourne Renegades before turning her full attention to football ahead of the inaugural 2016 season.

Internally, Lamb has always been rated quite highly – her professionalism, leadership and competitiveness is second to none.

But it wasn’t until her career-best season six campaign where she started being taken seriously externally. 

The 28-year-old is a true battler for the red, white and blue – made no more evident than playing last season through a persistent foot injury.

“Heading into the pre-season, I was at my worst - I was struggling to even walk throughout the day, let alone run on it a couple of times a week,” Lamb told Credit to the Girls podcast in February this year.

“I spent a lot of time in rehab, trying to get it sorted and back into footy, you end up getting little soft-tissue injuries here and there.

“I think I had two or three injuries over preseason, and I might have trained two or three weeks with the whole group across the whole preseason.”

Despite this, Lamb received a maiden All Australian selection, was named joint winner of the Club best and fairest, was recognised as the AFLPA’s Most Courageous player, and claimed a top-five finish in the AFLCA’s Champion Player of the Year award.

Not bad for someone who missed majority of preseason training.

It’s to no surprise either she’s picked up this season exactly where she left off – putting together back-to-back best on ground performances in rounds two and three while averaging 18 disposals, four marks and four clearances.

And don’t her teammates love her for it.

“She’s a really special player as part of our football club,” captain Ellie Blackburn said.

“For me personally, we’re great mates on and off the field and I’m just so proud that she’s able to get to 50 games.”

Bailey Hunt said “she’s a heart and soul player, and one person that I can go onto the footy field with and have all the confidence she’ll have my back”, while Elle Bennetts described her as “one of the best teammates she’s played with”.

De Berry highlighted Lamb’s efforts in the one-point win over Adelaide, while Jess Fitzgerald praised Lamb as her favourite player.

“I don’t even think we’ve seen the best of Kirsty Lamb yet, which is incredible to think,” Katie Lynch said.

Had it not been for a one-match suspension back in the opening round of the inaugural season, Lamb would have notched up the 50-game milestone last weekend.

But in what could be a blessing in disguise, the Bulldogs’ faithful will be able to celebrate the 2018 premiership player wholeheartedly this Saturday afternoon against Hawthorn.

Here’s to 50 incredible games Lamby, with hopefully another 50+ to come.