AT THE start of Kate Hore's AFLW journey, her forwards coach presented her with a photo of two paths, highlighting the potential for the outstanding career which was to come.

Thankfully for the AFLW world and for Melbourne, Hore was so inspired by the picture, she developed into the silky game-changer we know today, and she will become the first to play 100 AFLW matches for the Demons.

While Libby Birch played 55 of her 111 games at Melbourne, and close friend Lily Mithen – who will also celebrate game No.100 this weekend – played 82 in the red and blue, Hore is the only woman to have brought up the milestone entirely at Melbourne.

She joined the club ahead of the 2018 season as a basketball-playing rookie who had thrived in her time in junior footy with the boys, and was ready to rejoin her first sporting love.

Now 31, Hore has been remarkably durable during her 10-season career, only missing one game due to injury.

"Any young player that's comes into a sport that you hadn't played for literally 10 years, you're just kind of so focused on getting a game, getting a kick, staying in the team," Hore told AFL.com.au.

"Then the more you grow up and mature and become a bigger part of the team, you realise the role that you can play, and hopefully that the young girls who are playing are able to look up to you in the same way I looked up to my leaders. I realised I've got to take a big responsibility in setting up our culture and our environment, and make it a place that people love coming to and are happy and can be themselves there.

"Peter Mercoulia is now at the Dogs, but he was my forward line coach in like 2018, 2019. He was pretty unique. He got us forwards in a meeting room, and he'd picked out a different picture for each of us, that represented us as players.

"I've still got mine on my phone. It had two paths. He basically just said 'If you just keep going about your business, and just keep rocking up to training and doing your thing, you can go down this path and you'll be like an okay player that you know plays most weeks, but just kind of goes about it. 

"'Or, you can really keep working hard at your game, keep pushing boundaries, keep challenging yourself, and you can go down this other path. And who knows where that will take you?'

"It was a long time ago now, but it really stood out to me. I've grabbed that and wanted to make the most out my football career."

Hore played junior footy with the boys until under 12s at Beaumaris Sharks, then switched to basketball, playing for Sandringham in the SEABL (now NBL1).

Watching the first AFLW season in February and March of 2017 reignited her love for football, and she found herself lining up for the St Kilda Sharks in the VFLW season later that year.

There were plenty of AFLW players on the list at the time, including Bri Davey, Jas Garner, Phoebe McWilliams, Tilly Lucas-Rodd, Brit Bonnici, Mia-Rae Clifford and future top-liners Maddi Gay and Jenna Bruton, who weren't on AFLW lists at the time.

But it was another AFLW player, Melbourne key back Meg Downie, who quickly spotted Hore's potential and alerted then-list manager Todd Patterson (now heading up Tasmania's inaugural AFL/W list builds).

"He came down to watch me play, and I think he met me behind a tree – he had a hat and a hoodie on," Hore said.

"We were trying to keep it secret, because as a rookie at the time, you could choose the club you went to. I toured the Bulldogs facilities, I spoke to Collingwood as well, but landed at Melbourne.

"It felt like home as soon as I walked in the doors, and I've been there ever since. I've had so many amazing teammates and leaders and role models at the Dees who have really shaped not only who I am as a footballer, but as a person as well. 

"I think about early days. Some of the people that had a big impact on me, obviously Daisy (Pearce), Paxy (Paxman), Mel Hickey, Elise O'Dea, I just absolutely idolised those girls. I just thought they were yeah the coolest people ever, and I still do. 

"I feel like we've got a pretty great culture at the Dees, and hopefully it's one where I've left a lasting legacy on it as well."

Hore had one of the toughest tasks in football ahead of the 2023 season – replacing the formidable Pearce as captain.

While the first season was all about "How will Kate replace Daisy", Hore has quickly carved her own identity as skipper.

"It was pretty daunting, pretty big shoes to fill, obviously, and I was so close to 'Dais', and still am. To be able to take over the captaincy, it was a massive thing. The one thing that she told me to do, and Mick (Stinear, coach at the time) as well, was to just be me, like be Kate Hore. There's no point me trying to be Daisy Pearce, because I was never ever going to be that," she said.

"Leadership is a constantly evolving space and something that you just have to keep trying to work out and get better, and you get kind of more comfortable in it the longer you do it. Hopefully I've kind of found my own way and have stuck true to myself throughout."

Lauren Pearce has been Hore's teammate throughout her entire career, and has seen her confidence blossom.

"She's been really consistent with everything she's done the whole time. And I know she's gotten better (her form) over time, but she's been so good for so long. She never tires of trying to improve," Pearce said.

"I knew her name through the basketball world, but didn't play against her. You couldn't question her work ethic. She's obviously developed shitloads, but when she came in, her understanding of the game and reading of the play was already there – everything else came after.

"Every now and then on field she'll get a bit of white-line fever and something will come out (at her teammates) – it's not a spray as such, but more of a 'Come on, get your shit together', that happens. It's still in a caring way, there's no malice, it's just her wanting to win.

"Off the field, end of season trips and those sorts of things, she's completely different. Different personas come out, it's crazy to see the difference – she's definitely come out of her shell more.

"She loves to get the rig out too, pre-season runs, the rig is out. It's unbelievable. But why wouldn't you, if you're Kate Hore?"

At the other end of the spectrum, second-year forward/mid Maggie Mahony has walked into a club shaped by Hore, among others.

"Kate's been a workhorse, but she's also lovely to chat to and will be anyone's friend. She's taken us in with open arms. She's a role model for all of us. When you come into the Melbourne football club for the first time, it's like, 'Kate Hore's here, that's pretty exciting'. 

"There's a bit of a mum vibe. In my first year, we went to New Zealand, and she drove the three of us draftees around all week. She almost became our second mum, it was really fun, and we got to know her really well. But she's such a gentle, lovely and kind person."

Pearce recounted how the Melbourne football operations team "stitched Kate up" on Monday, showering the unsuspecting skipper with praise.

It was a warm and clever way to celebrate a warm and clever person, who has given so much to the football club and the wider competition.

"We normally start it with shout-outs for nice things about each other, what they brought on the weekend, and we got the heads up from the footy ops team to aim it all at Kate," Pearce said.

"The first one pipes up, then the second, and the third, and she's just sitting there going, 'What is going on?' 

"As humble as ever, and hates the spotlight, but she deserves it this week."