For most young Australians, reaching the AFL is a dream career, driven by fame, fortune, or the pure desire for glory. For Western Bulldogs' Will Lewis, it was the latter. The 27-year-old made his AFL debut this season after taking a pay cut from his day job as a civil engineer.
Lewis, a key forward, joined the Bulldogs in March 2026, putting his engineering career on hold. He had been working at Squared Structures in Abbotsford, which will welcome him back whenever he is ready. However, after playing in four of the Bulldogs' first eight games, Lewis hopes to extend his AFL stint beyond a few months.
Unlikely Path to the AFL
Lewis had never met with an AFL club before missing two calls from coach Luke Beveridge on the afternoon James Harms retired. With only two weeks until the SSP deadline, the 194cm forward had little time to prove himself but had already done enough.
Last season was his fourth at Footscray in the VFL, where he kicked 40 goals to help the Dogs win the premiership. Five days after that grand final victory over Southport, Lewis won another premiership with his local club Old Bright in the Amos, kicking four goals alongside former schoolmates from Brighton Grammar.
Rapid Rise
Lewis returned to his engineering job after the VFL season and did not expect to switch careers until February. But just 12 days after signing his contract at Whitten Oval in March, he debuted in the round-one win over Greater Western Sydney.
“It’s been a wild couple of months,” Lewis said. His civil engineering career awaits, but he is determined to make his AFL journey last beyond spring. With four goals in four appearances, he is on track to earn a second contract.
