Swans ruck star to reach 100 combined games

Having now well and truly cemented herself as the best ruck in the WAFLW competition, Swan Districts star Lauren Quaife is set to celebrate her 100th game this Sunday on the back of being part of history on Saturday.

Having started her WAFLW career with Peel Thunder back in 2019 and being part of the 2020 and 2021 premiership triumphs, her football has only continued to go from strength to strength since she joined Swan Districts in 2023.

She has now been the ruck for Western Australia in the past three State games against South Australia and on Saturday was part of history when the WAFL representative team won for the first time with the 92-point victory.

Now the milestones continue for the 24-year-old when Quaife plays her 100th game in the WAFLW competition in what is another grand final rematch for Swan Districts on Sunday against Claremont at Steel Blue Oval.

Having seen her co-captain at Swans, Demi Liddle, also bring up her 100-game milestone recently as well, Quaife is rightfully proud to be about to reach the mark and especially to share it with her teammates at Swan Districts.

“It means a lot,” Quaife said.

“It is the seven-plus seasons of commitment to get to a big milestone like that. I am grateful that Swans give me the opportunity week in week out to be able to play and get to the point of 100 games.

“It’s nice to be able to play it at home as well with the Swannies girls and especially Demi who I’ve played the most games of footy with and recently reached her 100th game.”

The journey to 100 games

It’s been quite the ride for Quaife to now be about to reach 100 games after starting out playing closer to home with Peel Thunder and then being part of that early success, including the 2021 grand final victory against Swan Districts.

But to have been able to not only continue to play in the WAFL Women’s, but to be doing so at such a high level where she is one of the first picked in the WAFL Women’s State Team, is a credit to her.

Especially when you throw in the act that it’s gone hand-in-hand with law studies and now working with Bailiwick Legal, it’s a feat that she is rightfully proud to be about to reach.

“I’ve been dropped, injured, fell out of love with footy and suspended (oops!) so to finally reach 100 has made me reflect on the ups and downs and setbacks I’ve had,” Quaife said.

“The competition has grown in teams and talent since I started in 2020. There’s girls I watched play AFLW and now play with and against.

“We also now get paid and have contracts! It’s really cool to be part of and see the respect of the women’s competition grow to the level it has.

“I also feel old rucking against the new younger players coming through and training with players in high school because that used to be me which makes me reflect on how long I’ve been playing footy!”

First winning State game

Following on from the annual event the men have had for some time, the WAFL and SANFL women’s competition have now played State games over the past three years with Quaife leading the ruck for the WA team on each occasion.

After losing the first two encounters, Quaife and her Western Australian teammates emphatically turned things around this past Saturday with the thumping 15.9 (99) to 1.1 (7) win.

It was such a dominant performance from WA where South Australia didn’t kick their lone goal of the game until the last quarter with Quaife finishing with 24 hit outs, 11 tackles and six disposals.

She was just happy to be part of it.

“I was honestly very shocked that we dominated as much as much as we did,” Quaife said.

“I have a lot of respect for the SA team and especially their ruck (Soriah Moon) who I’ve struggled to compete against in the past but everyone did their part in WA and we just linked and clicked like a team that has been playing for all season together.

“It was fun being part of such a talented and experienced team, especially the mid field getting repeated clearances and goals so quickly.”

Pride in playing for WA

Quaife has always been proud playing for Western Australia the last two years and to be leading the ruck, but it’s a whole different feeling to then turn that into being part of a winning team like she was in on Saturday.

“I was a part of the last two years where we lost against SA so winning was the cherry on top of a great experience with the playing group,” Quaife said.

“It’s always a privilege to be picked from the WAFLW comp and make the team to represent WA.

“Also to play at a WAFL ground before the WAFL men’s game with supporters was really awesome to experience. Having every club supporting collectively to beat SA makes you realise it is a big deal.”

Embracing role in the ruck

Obviously to play the position that Quaife does in the ruck you need the natural physical gift of being tall, but she has also made it a focus to be the best possible player in that position by honing her craft.

That’s why her work with the ruck knocks and then her physicality at ground level especially with her tackling pressure continues to lead the way whether it’s playing weekly with Swan Districts or annually for Western Australia.

“I always say ‘know your role, play your role’ to the girls because I love ruck and don’t want to play another position,” Quaife said.

“I love the physicality and challenge of the ruck position, always having to contest to try give your team first hands and the strategy to try hit where the other side won’t know.

“I think the best part is the ‘see ball get ball’ nature of midfield which is what I like about the position so much. And I have to give credit that my height has helped me a lot to secure the position haha.”

Creating a home with Swan Districts

While it was just natural for Quaife to begin her career with Peel Thunder given it was the closest club to home, once work and study commitments brought her more to Perth, she was always going to be looking for a new footballing home.

She found that at Swan Districts in 2023 and has never looked back, and couldn’t be more thankful.

“Playing at Swans helped me find my spark for enjoying playing footy again,” Quaife said.

“Moving will always be the best decision I made in my footy career and that is because of the group of girls and support staff surrounding us.

“We have so much depth and talented players and everyone buys in and gives there all at trainings and games. I have no doubt that we can go all the way based on our group alone. The added incentive of redemption is just a perk.”