Talented young Cat, Bryde O’Rourke is set to make her AFLW debut on Tuesday night when Geelong takes on Fremantle at GMHBA Stadium.  

An exciting prospect that possesses explosive speed and brilliant evasive skills, O’Rourke can play in numerous positions across the ground.  

Geelong selected the impressive youngster under the Father-Daughter rule, taking her with pick 23 in the 2023 AFLW draft. 

O’Rourke grew up supporting Geelong after her father, Ray played for the Cats back in 1969, nominating Joel Selwood and Andrew Mackie as her favourite players. 

The talented prospect spent three seasons with the Bendigo Pioneers, while also representing Vic Country at the National Championships in 2023.  

Averaging 16 disposals and four tackles per game in 2023, O’Rourke also proved to be damaging forward of the ball booting six goals across the season.  

A dominant stretch of games landed the 18 year old on Geelong’s radar, before the Father-Daughter connection was realised and O’Rourke became a Cat.  

O’Rourke spoke to Cats Media earlier in the season, touching on some of her inspirations that have spurred her on across her career.  

“I started when I was in either Grade 2 or 3 playing with the boys at my primary school and I worked my way up through the Coates League, starting when I was 14 years old,” O’Rourke said.  

“I was a Cats fan through and through. When I was little it was hard to go past Joel Selwood as my favourite player, but I used to really like Andrew Mackie.   

“Mel Hickey was my coach at Vic Country, the Cats first AFLW captain so having that connection and getting to know her on a better level has been great.  

“I look up to Mel with the way she goes about things, she mentored me through that time so she has been an inspiration for me.” 

O’Rourke will make her debut on Tuesday night when the Cats take on Fremantle at GMHBA Stadium, with the opening bounce at 7.15pm.