Reaching 300 games is no easy feat. It’s a milestone that’s only been achieved by some of the game’s greats like Roos, Archer, Goodes and Harvey. This weekend Belinda Bowey will join these football legends when she becomes the first woman in football history to reach the triple century.

Belinda is humbled to be the first woman to reach the milestone, an achievement that has been 23 seasons in the making. “It’s definitely an honour to also be the first female to reach 300 games. It comes after many cold, winter nights training, early Sunday mornings and missing many family functions, but if I could do it all over again, I certainly would.”

Belinda, 39, has been member of the St Kilda Sharks Women’s Football Club since she began her career as a 17 year old. The red, white and black runs in the family with her brother, Brett Bowey, playing 85 AFL games with St Kilda.

Like every sportsperson Belinda’s career has been a mixture of highs and lows. “2004 was a very memorable season for me. We won the division 2 premiership and also had the opportunity to play a home and away match on the MCG, which was truly amazing. There have been low times too. We have lost grand finals and have been thrashed by over 200 points, but there is always something positive to take out from each game.”

Despite the scale of her achievement, Bowey is playing down the occasion saying that it is just another game football. “It might be my 300th, but once I get my hands on the ball on Sunday, it will be like any other game,” she explains.

And like any other game Belinda’s devoted cheer squad of family and friends will be there supporting her from the sidelines. “Mum and Dad still come and watch me play when they can. Mum’s the one yelling out, “Kick it to Belinda”. Dad, on the other hand is pretty quiet. He records my stats and hands them to me after the game. Let’s hope the card is full on Sunday!”

Good luck on Sunday, Belinda and congratulations on an outstanding achievement.

Phoebe McWilliams