Inaugural AFLW Eagle Belinda Smith says she never considered leaving West Coast despite the club's struggles, and she now has a commemorative t-shirt to thank her for that loyalty.
Smith will become the first player to notch 50 AFLW games for the Eagles when she lines up in Sunday's match against Brisbane at Perth's Mineral Resources Park.
The 29-year-old played 12 games for the Dockers at the start of her career, then added three at the Bulldogs in 2019 before joining West Coast for their inaugural season of 2020.
Smith hasn't missed a game for the Eagles over the past five-and-a-bit seasons, notching 49 games in the blue and gold to establish herself as one of the club's most important players.
Her 50-game milestone for West Coast was celebrated in special fashion at training this week.
"We were all donning our B Smith special edition T shirts at training," coach Daisy Pearce said.
"I've never seen that before in an AFLW program, which is awesome to see - the merch starting to get pumped out.
"Everyone's proudly sporting those around the club.
"There was a bit of a fight between me and the other assistant coaches when the numbers started getting low - we all wanted B Smith shirts."
West Coast won just eight games across their opening five seasons, and never more than two matches in a single campaign.
But Pearce's arrival has breathed new life into the team, with West Coast posting three wins from their opening four games in 2024 to put themselves in the finals mix.
Smith said she never contemplated leaving West Coast despite the on-field pain.
"I love this club," Smith said.
"I was a die-hard West Coast fan growing up, so to be able to come across and pull on the jersey in the first season here was an absolute honour.
"And then once you meet the girls here, there's never a doubt. I never wanted to go anywhere.
"To play 50 games for the club is something I'm proud of. It's so satisfying.
"There were some really low points, and it's taken a lot of hard work and honest conversations throughout the seasons and off-seasons (to get here)."
Smith has established herself as a rock in West Coast's defence, but she revealed she was racked with confidence issues earlier in her career.
"I think everyone has self doubts and that's something I've dealt with a lot of my career," she said.
"But it's just saying 'stuff that' to be honest, and working really hard and having a really good hard look at yourself and knowing where your faults are in your game, and seeing where you can get better."
