She wrecked her knee on debut and thought it was all over - how Daria Bannister made it to 50 AFLW games.

Daria Bannister’s journey to her 50th AFLW game has been a rollercoaster. From tearing her ACL on debut to playing for three clubs. She opens up on the ride.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 11: Daria Bannister of the Bombers is tackled during the round seven AFLW match between Western Bulldogs and Essendon Bombers at Mission Whitten Oval, on October 11, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

It has taken three clubs and seven seasons for Tasmanian Daria Bannister to play 50 AFLW games but she will hit the milestone playing for Essendon against Richmond in Darwin on Saturday night.

Hitting the career half-century will be a special moment for the former Launceston TSLW premiership player, who wrecked her knee when she did her ACL on debut for the Western Bulldogs.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 4: Daria Bannister of the Bulldogs is seen injured during the 2018 AFLW Round 01 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Fremantle Dockers at VU Whitten Oval on February 4, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

It was her one and only game for the Doggies before switching to Tasmanian-aligned North Melbourne where she played 24 games.

The 25-year-old moved to Essendon in 2022 where she has played 24 games.

“It’s seven years in the making to get to 50 games and being able to do that at the weekend is pretty surreal,” Bannister said.

“I’ve obviously had my ups and down with injuries but I’m looking forward to playing my 50th.”

Bannister’s AFLW debut was not what she expected.

“It’s amazing when I think of the full circle and having Paul Groves [former Bulldogs premiership coach, now Bombers assistant-coach] here with me _ he drafted me to the Bulldogs and that was an incredible feeling,” Bannister said

“My journey at North Melbourne has also been incredible, meeting the people I have there and being able to play some really good football.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Daria Bannister of the Kangaroos is tackled during the round seven AFLW match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Western Bulldogs at North Hobart Oval on March 13, 2021 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

“The exciting thing is I then got to move on to Essendon and I’ve loved my time here and I’m excited to run out with this group to play my 50th.”

Bannister joined Essendon in the same year the Bombers joined the AFLW.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 20: Daria Bannister of the Bombers about to kick during the round eight AFLW match between Essendon Bombers and North Melbourne Kangaroos at Windy Hill, on October 20, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

“I’ve met some of the best individual people here and being able to come to work every day and run out on the field with some of the best people I’m pretty lucky to being this position,” she said.

“I love pulling on the red and black each day and I’m excited to continue that.”