You would be hard pressed to find any footballer at any level who boasts a resume like Amy McDonald. 

The star Cat is into her eighth AFLW season in the Hoops, having earned her place at the elite level through Geelong's VFLW program, before making her AFLW debut in 2020. 

From pick 80 in the 2019 draft, McDonald went on to win three consecutive best and fairest awards at Geelong, nearly doubling the vote tally of second place in the first of those awards.

If that is not enough, the brilliant on-baller was also selected in two consecutive All Australian squads, making the final team after a stellar campaign in Season 7 of the AFLW competition. 

But when quizzed about what she is most proud of on the eve of her 75th AFLW game, McDonald had an answer that extended far beyond the boundary line on-field and highlighted just how far the competition had come. 

"I think for me when I reflect back, a huge part of pulling on the jumper is that when I was a young girl growing up, I didn't expect that I would be able to pick up a football, let alone be getting to play out here on GMHBA Stadium," McDonald told Cats Media ahead of her milestone match. 

"It is a moment for me that every time I pull on the jumper, it is a moment to remember where the game was, the direction it has gone in and now, the influence you have on younger boys and girls.

"They now, growing up, can dream to be whatever they want to be, whether that is a footballer, dancer or a basketballer.

"There is no ceiling on anything anymore, there is no gender stereotypes and for me, when I look back on my footy career, it is something that I am super proud of.

"Just being a part of that change and seeing where the game was when I began, knowing that whenever I leave it, it will be in such a better place."

When McDonald entered the league in 2020, the AFLW had a far different look and the Cats were heading into just their second season in the competition. 

The season would ultimately be abandoned due to COVID-19, but there were only 14 clubs in the league at the time, which was also split into two conferences and had a vastly different looking Finals system. 

McDonald made her debut in Geelong's Round 1 clash against Fremantle in that season, making a rapid rise to clinch her first best and fairest award in just her second AFLW campaign. 

Fast forward to today and the star midfielder has become one of the game's most consistent and impressive players, now preparing to play her 75th AFLW game on Saturday against Fremantle. 

"I think it is pretty crazy when you sit back and reflect on 75 games," McDonald said. 

"It is something that when you think of 75 games, it doesn't sound like too many. But in the grand scheme of things, I think this is my eighth season and I have only missed a handful of games.

"It has been an enormous body of work with a lot of sacrifice, but it is incredible to come out here week in and week out, walking out onto GMHBA Stadium with an incredible bunch of girls.

"It is certainly something that five years ago, I wouldn't have thought I'd be doing, let alone 10 or 15 years ago when I was a little girl growing up."

With everything that McDonald has achieved from a personal standpoint, there is still one big thing missing from the mantelpiece... an AFLW premiership. 

The Cats went close in 2023, advancing all the way to a Preliminary Final and coming within four points of the big dance, but Finals appearances have been somewhat fleeting during McDonald's career. 

In her seven completed seasons in the Hoops, Geelong have only made Finals on two occasions and have played four matches in the post-season, three of those coming in 2023. 

But 2026 has already seen the Cats soar to new heights, recording nine consecutive wins during the home-and-away season and moving to the cusp of locking away a spot in the top four, should they defeat the Dockers at GMHBA Stadium. 

McDonald noted that the taste of success alongside teammates is the thing she is striving for, wanting to play a big role in guiding the Cats to the ultimate prize.   

"I probably found over this off-season in particular, I really reflected on those accolades and on everywhere that I have been on what I have achieved," McDonald said. 

"But now I look at what I want to achieve and for me, and for everyone it obviously speaks for itself, but you want to be a premiership player. I want to win a premiership with this group of girls.

"I think 75 games, on the day it will be absolutely incredible and the week leading up to it, where you are reminded where you once were and where you are now.

"But I feel like I won't be able to sit back and look at those things until I reach that ultimate goal. Hopefully, one day, we will as a group.

"I won't be able to settle until we have that same medal around our necks."