Port forward Gemma Houghton has etched her name into football history by becoming the first player to 100 career goals in the competition.
The Yindjibarndi tall left it to the very final moment in a 81-point win over GWS to finish the season, slotting the milestone major after the final siren for her fourth of the day.
An inaugural AFLW player, debuting with Fremantle in 2017, Houghton kicked 23 goals in her 10th campaign, in recent weeks surging past fellow star veterans Jasmine Garner and Kate Horn - who end the home-and-away season with 97 and 99 career goals, to clinch the feat.
GEMMA HOUGHTON IS MADE FOR THE MOMENT 👑 pic.twitter.com/jVCrEjG4re
- Port Adelaide AFLW (@pafc_w) November 1, 2025
Houghton climbed from 86 to triple figures from the half way point of the season, averaging over two goals a game.
Her career-best remains a 5.2 in a WA Derby against West Coast while still at the Dockers during the 2021 season.
Crossing to the Power for their entry into the AFLW in season seven (2022), Houghton has kicked 69 of her tally at the club.
She was swarmed by teammates when she reached triple figures on Saturday afternoon.
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Houghton also paid tribute to retiring Giant, fellow AFLPA Indigenous Advisory Board member and fellow inaugural AFLW player Aliesha Newman, who hung up the boots on the day.
The pair shared a "special moment" after the match, Houghton said.
"(It was) really special to be able to play out her last game as well with the history that we have together.
"But so proud of the (Port Adelaide) girls. We knew we had to come out, we knew we had to be high scoring, and we just trusted each other...what a way to finish our season."
Speaking to media on Thursday, Newman, who announced her retirement through the week, said she "didn't want to walk off the ground" after an "emotional" final session on the training track.
"When I first got my first contract, all I really wanted to do was play one game," Newman said.
"Maybe halfway through the career, I was like 'it'd be pretty cool if I could play till I was 30'. So I ticked off two things that I really wanted to do.
"Footy has been a massive part of my journey and a massive part of me. And I'm not probably going to be moving too far away from football."
Newman, who retires after 67 appearances across four clubs added she's also looking forward to giving the body a break following ten seasons, and looks forward to the next chapter of her life.
The 30-year-old said she was also proud of being a First Nations leader in the game, and will work to continue championing the next generation and strengthening representation across the competition post playing career.
Newman said she embraced her culture at Melbourne, where she played between 2017 and 2020.
"If I reflect on my journey, I've played footy for so long, and my on field stuff is something that I pride myself on, but it's probably off-field for me...legacy and reputation of myself is something that I hold very high," she said.
"As long as I'm a good person, that's all I really care about."
The AFL paid congratulations to Houghton for her history-making achievement.
"On behalf of the AFL I'd like to congratulate Gemma on her incredible achievement, becoming the first AFLW player to reach 100 career goals," AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said.
"The history-making moment certainly came down to the wire - kicking her 100th goal after the siren - and it was amazing to see all her Port teammates celebrate after the game. They were terrific scenes that now form part of the game's history."
Earlier in the season, AFLW best-and-fairest and two-time premiership player Ally Anderson became the joint-first to 100 career games, alongside Ebony Marinoff.
2025 NAIDOC Sportsperson of the Year Danielle Ponter sits fourth on the all-time goalkickers tally with 90.
Houghton is a two-time All-Australian and five time club leading goalkicker.
