COUNTING down to 50.

This Thursday night, Darcy Vescio will become the first Carlton AFLW player to reach the 50-game milestone, a feat achieved by just 11 others competition-wide.

The accolade is added to an already impressive footballing resume – a dual All Australian, twice the league’s and three times Carlton’s leading goalkicker, AFLW Mark of the Year winner and the first player to reach 50 AFLW goals.

As humble as ever, Vescio is honoured to be on the brink of reaching the milestone and to have done so entirely in the Navy Blue.

“I'm very honoured to have played 50 games - well, I haven't quite played 50 games - to have played 49 with the Club,” Vescio said.

“Early days I always thought if I played five seasons, I'd be pretty happy. I'm up to season seven and feeling fitter and stronger than ever.

“It's probably hard to say what it'll feel like – I'm sure it's something I'll be able to look back on and be really proud that I was able to play 50 games here.”

From their early days in the Club’s design team, Vescio quickly found home within the four walls of IKON Park.

“I started here working in the graphics team, so I felt so fortunate to have been around the Club in a non-playing capacity because you understand how much bigger the Club is than just playing football,” they said.

“Of course that's at our core, but there are so many other people around the Club who make it special and do so much to make everything work.

“Before I came to the Club, I wouldn't think about the Club's accountants or the property stewards, all those people who are so important to the Club running.

“I just feel so lucky to call Carlton my home and to be able to say that I would have played 50 games here is really special.”

The milestone carries even greater significance given Vescio was forced to give the game away at the age of 14, due to a lack of pathway and no foreseeable football future.

“I just never really imagined being able to hit this sort of milestone – I never even imagined playing for an AFLW club,” they said.

“I think back to when I was 14 and had to give it away and at that point, I genuinely had no thought that I would actually play footy again, let alone be able to play at an elite level.”

Vescio’s return to football came via Darebin, with the inaugural Game Changer winning four state league premierships with the Falcons and crediting much of the player they are to the club.

Since progressing to Carlton as a marquee signing back in 2016, the past 49 games have marked considerable growth.

“I think I've improved as a player, which is really exciting," they said.

“I'd like to think my fitness has probably been the biggest growth area for me. The footy I played before AFLW, I feel like I'm a good reader of the ball and a pretty smart footballer and I've always relied on that to keep myself in games.

“I think over... probably really the last three or four pre-seasons and since the pandemic hit, I feel like my relationship with running changed a fair bit because it was the only thing you could do to leave the house.

“All of a sudden, I enjoyed running and I could see how it changes the way you can play the game and later in games you can still maintain a level of skill and composure. I'm trying to see myself as not a fixed sort of footballer, just continuing to grow and evolve as the team needs me and as the game demands.

“I'm excited to see what footy lies ahead. I strongly believe my best footy is still ahead of me, which is a really exciting thing.”

Fittingly, Vescio will return to the scene of their very first AFLW game - and the first of the competition holistically - to mark their 50^th league appearance.

In that game, Vescio booted four goals.

“It's nice to think that I'll be playing it here in Round 1 against Collingwood because that was the first ever game, but I also reflect on the fact that this is the 50^th game Carlton has played in the AFLW competition," they said.

“I've been really fortunate to play every single one but it's pretty amazing to think that this is the 50^th time people have been able to wear the AFLW jumper for the Club, so that's pretty amazing.”

Each of those games have come with their ups and downs for Vescio, who has ridden every bump along the way.

“I feel like I've had an assortment of years in AFLW. I've had some good years, I’ve had some poor years, but it's all part of it. I really appreciate the things I've been able to experience through AFLW.

“I feel so fortunate to have experienced footy before AFLW, and now to have experienced, as we head into a more professional look as well, with all 18 teams – it's a pretty cool position to be in.”

Most pointedly, Vescio has witnessed the incredible growth of the AFLW competition firsthand.

“The most recent CBA was a huge step for us as footballers because it gave everyone an opportunity to not be a full-time employee somewhere else – it gave everyone a bit of flexibility," they said.

“I feel like that lifestyle shift, maybe you’ll see it this year, but I think in the next couple of seasons that'll be reflected in the way people play and how they feel.

“I know even for me, I feel like the past couple of seasons I feel more like an athlete rather than just a person who plays football.

“I think when you can feel that within yourself, you apply yourself differently to football and to training. I think that's been a huge change. The cultural shift in players knowing they belong in the AFLW system is a huge thing.”

Over such a long journey, Vescio finds it difficult to pinpoint a moment they are most proud of.

However, there is one thing from which they take great pride.

“I'm really proud that I've been able to stay with Carlton throughout all these years,” they said.

“There have been times that it has been really hard, but I really believe in where our program is at and the people around that program. I feel like we're in the best position yet to have success in the years to come.

“I'm really proud to be a Carlton person and to be associated with Carlton so strongly. I know the choice of staying at the Club – it doesn't always stay with you, so I'm really proud to have had that choice and to have chosen Carlton.”