Geelong has welcomed Irish duo Aishling Moloney and Anna Rose Kennedy as Other Sport Rookie signings for AFLW Season 8.
The Tipperary teammates will join returning Mayo star Rachel Kearns at GMHBA Stadium as the Club’s Irish cohort grows to six across its AFL and AFLW programs.
Moloney shapes as another asset for Geelong’s attacking half as a mobile tall forward, and is one of the top players in the Gaelic Athletics Association (GAA).
A member of two All-Ireland Intermediate championship sides and the 2019 Players’ Player of the Year, Moloney brings a strong resume with her.
Kennedy will hone her craft as a running defender or outside player, and earlier this year captained DCU Dóchas Éireann to victory in the O’Connor Cup.
Geelong Cats Head of AFLW and Football Pathways Brett Johnson said the club was excited add the duo to its AFLW list.
“Aishling and Anna Rose are very talented Gaelic footballers, and we’re thrilled that they’ve chosen Geelong as their new home away from home,” Johnson said.
“Aishling is well credentialled in the GAA, and we believe she will adapt well as a mobile tall forward in the AFLW.
“Anna Rose is an exciting young prospect who brings plenty of pace, and we see her slotting in either with our defence or as another option on the wing.
"Both players will finish out their season with Tipperary before making the move to Australia.
“Both Aishling and Anna Rose are fantastic people and athletes, and we’re looking forward to them joining our AFLW program for the season ahead."
With the inclusion of the two new rookies, Kearns has now been placed on the Cats’ primary list.
In other list news, after giving birth to daughter Billie earlier this month, Sammy Gooden will start Season 8 on the inactive list, but will work through her Return to Play program when appropriate and is still a chance to take the field in the upcoming season.
The Cats have one more list spot to fill heading into next month’s Season 8 Supplementary Draft, where they hold the number-one pick.
Geelong’s AFLW Season 8 List
New players:
Kate Surman, Aishling Moloney, Anna Rose Kennedy
Returning Players:
Mikayla Bowen, Annabel Johnson, Amy McDonald, Darcy Moloney, Jackie Parry, Julia Crockett-Grills, Kate Darby, Nina Morrison, Georgie Rankin, Meghan McDonald, Renee Garing, Liv Fuller, Chloe Scheer, Shelley Scott, Chantel Emonson, Brooke Plummer, Zali Friswell, Becky Webster, Rachel Kearns, Sammy Gooden*, Mia Skinner, Claudia Gunjaca, Ingrid Houtsma, Gabbi Featherston, Abbey McDonald, Georgie Prespakis, Melissa Bragg
*Sammy Gooden will begin Season 8 on Geelong’s inactive list
