West Coast Eagles co-captain Bella Lewis will play her 75th game on Saturday, the one-club midfielder making her debut in the blue and gold in 2021.
Lewis made an instant impact, winning both Club Champion and Best First Year Player in her first season, and has gone on to develop into key pillar of leadership and professionalism for this emerging group.
“It means a lot, it’s a special milestone and one that doesn’t come around too often yet with the infancy of the competition,” Lewis said.
“It’s very surreal, it feels like only yesterday I played 50 games, and to do it at one club is really special and with this group and this program, it’s something I’m very proud of.”
Lewis has solidified her stellar reputation through her toughness, quick pace and clean ball use, driving West Coast’s engine room with her ability to contribute both offensively and defensively.
“The program has grown exponentially and the buy-in from the whole club from when I walked in the door has grown every day,” Lewis said.
“The resourcing, the people they bring in are all really good people, and to be able to grow in an environment like that and to grow my game and leadership and myself as a person off the field, I feel very privileged to do it here.”
The 23-year-old Claremont Tigers product was elevated to co-captain alongside Charlie Thomas ahead of the 2025 season, a testament to her character both on and off the field and led the team to its first final appearance.
“Bella is incredible, she sets the standard with the way that she goes about her training and preparation and she’s just so elite in that space,” Senior coach Daisy Pearce said.
“She’s tough, competitive, everything you want in a player, and the thing I admire is that she came in and made an impact at a really young age.
“She’s shouldered a lot of responsibility and because of who she is, she’s just taken on a lot of responsibly and I rely on her heaps as the skipper.
“It’s amazing that she’s achieved this milestone and everything that she has at her age, we’re so lucky to have her and excited to see her game continue to grow.”
