Thursday night will mark a momentous occasion for skipper Deanna Berry.
Leading the team out for the first time on home soil is one aspect, but in doing so, the Premiership Bulldog will also notch up her 50th career game.
It’s been a journey of resilience for the 26-year-old, first selected with Pick 9 in the inaugural AFLW Draft by Melbourne.
Arriving at the Kennel via a trade the following year, Berry reached the ultimate success early into her red, white and blue – etching herself into the Bulldogs’ history books as a 2018 Premiership player.
"I was probably a little arrogant 18-year-old (in 2017) … it was actually in that premiership season where Paul Groves dropped me and was like 'you need to work harder' and I was like 'okay this is what it means, this is what I have to do',” she told afl.com.au in July.
The next few seasons unfortunately weren’t as smooth for Berry, who endured an unlucky run with injury which subsequently hampered her opportunity to play consistent football.
“I probably haven’t reflected too much yet, but there’s been a lot in between my debut and 50th game … a couple shoulder reconstructions, a knee reconstruction, an ankle reconstruction and other things,” she told the Herald Sun this week.
“So I’m pretty grateful to be here and very excited for what’s to come on Thursday night.
“There’s no place like Whitten Oval … it’s a pretty special place for us and our fans, and we’re really excited to reopen the facilities to everyone.”
While Berry has been a familiar face at the Kennel for the past seven years now, this season she achieved another accolade – becoming just the third captain in Club history.
"It was going to be whoever was going to be the best person. I put my hat in the ring and I didn't know what would come from it, and I was just lucky enough that it did,” Berry told afl.com.au.
"I never even thought (captaincy) would be something I'd even put my hand up for.”
When asked to describe her, there was one word in particular her teammates repeated.
Fierce.
It’s what they’ve known to expect of Berry, and there’s no doubt she’ll be anything less than that as her team searches for its first win of 2024 on Thursday night.
