Kate Darby and Renee Garing will become the Geelong Football Club’s first-ever women’s players to receive Life Membership, at the Hall of Fame event on Saturday the 22nd of June.
Darby and Garing will receive their Life Membership along with 11 other individuals, awarded for their incredible service to the Geelong Football Club both on and off the field.
Pioneers of elite level women’s football in Geelong, the pair were key contributors in Geelong’s inaugural season in 2019. Taking their place in the historical Round 1 AFLW home game against Collingwood at GMHBA Stadium, in which the Cats were able to win their first game by one point to a roaring crowd of 18,429 people, they then played 11 and 7 games respectively in the VFLW season, adding their experience and seniority to a then developing list.
On field, Darby sits at 43 games of AFLW football, after beginning her career at Carlton in 2017 before joining the Cats. Fans saw the best of Darby in 2023, with career-best numbers in marks (2.3), hitouts (11.4) and tackles (3) as she embraced the flexibility of being able to perform in a variety of positions, spending more time in the ruck in addition to her forward duties.
Playing every game bar one in the 2023 season, Darby was an important figure in the stunning Semi-Final win against reigning premiers Melbourne, kicking a goal and playing a key role late in thwarting the fast-finishing Demons to propel Geelong into a Preliminary Final.
In 2020 Darby took a year away from playing, after announcing her pregnancy and giving birth to daughter, Ella, but was still involved in an off-field capacity at the Club.
The off-field work Darby has undertaken has made a lasting impact at the Club, with her efforts and contributions to the community that will be remembered for many years to come.
Darby was awarded with her third Geelong Cats AFLW Carter Family Community Champion award in 2023, recognising her impact and initiative in the community, particularly her work as a Pride Ambassador for the Club and involvement with the Peace of Mind Foundation, whilst helping drive an inclusive and diverse mindset at the Club.
She was also awarded the Tom Hafey Variety Heart of Football Award, named in honour of V/AFL great Tom Hafey, which recognises AFL and AFLW players who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and selflessness in their commitment to children.
Renee Garing’s story is one of resilience and persistence, resulting in her receiving life membership with the Cats for an incredible career in the hoops.
Another inaugural player in Geelong’s 2019 team, Garing was a highly-respected and valued leader at the Club, helping navigate Geelong’s early days of entering the AFLW competition.
Garing played every game possible across her first three seasons before taking time off during her first pregnancy, and was a member of the Cats’ AFLW player leadership group from 2019 to 2021.
Her playing career concluded at the end of the 2023 season, accumulating 33 games and registering two goals, one of which came in her final season following her return to playing, after giving birth to her son Parker.
Garing’s final season also saw her play a key role, generating opportunities via her elite pressure and ability to read the play, opening up scoring avenues for the Cats high powered forward line.
In 2020 and 2021, Garing also received a Geelong Cats Community Champion award for her work in many community spaces such as Just Think, The Salvation Army and the Fight Cancer Foundation.
Both players have been an inspiration to those at the club and the wider footballing community, showing incredible resilience and drive to sustain an elite level of professional sport, while also being sensational role models with their work off the field.
Tickets to the 2024 Geelong Cats Hall of Fame Dinner are now on sale. Click here for more information or to purchase your ticket.
