IRISH Cat Rachel Kearns is set miss the remainder of the AFLW season after injuring her shoulder during Geelong's season-opening win over Richmond.
Kearns was forced from the field in significant pain during the first quarter of the clash following a heavy tackle from Richmond's Beth Lynch.
"Rachel underwent surgical repair of her AC Joint this morning," Head AFLW Physiotherapist Erin Nelson says.
"This will most likely be a season ending injury."
It's a tough blow for Kearns, who played every game in her debut season earlier this year and earned respect for her speed and ferocious tackling.
