Three-time Geelong AFLW Best and Fairest winner Amy McDonald will be available for selection for this weekend’s clash against Waalitj Marawar (West Coast Eagles), with the star midfielder expected to return after missing the last four weeks with a hamstring injury.

Sustaining the injury in Week 5 against Hawthorn, McDonald will be a welcome boost for the Cats, who remain in finals contention with two games remaining.

“Amy is fit and ready to go, she has ticked all the boxes in her recovery, and she can’t wait to get out there against the Eagles,” Geelong Cats Assistant General Manager of Football Brett Johnson said.

After further assessment, and missing last week with an ankle injury, Kate Kenny has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a stress fracture in her ankle.

“Kate has unfortunately sustained a stress fracture in her navicular and has commenced her rehabilitation. While that will rule Kate out for the remainder of the AFLW season, we will support her and eagerly anticipate her return to the field with her Gaelic team for their season, and we look forward to having her back, fully fit and ready, for our 2025 pre-season,” Johnson said.

Gabbi Featherston will be a test this week following some hamstring tightness against Brisbane.

“Gabbi suffered some hamstring tightness during the game and we opted to take a conservative approach, so we will see how she progresses at training this week,” Johnson said.

Defender Rachel Kearns will be also a test to return after progressing through the AFL’s concussion protocols following her knock in Week 7 against Richmond.

In other health news, Darcy Moloney will miss a second straight week with an ankle injury. Chloe Scheer and Bryde O’Rourke continue to work through their rehabilitation from their respective injuries, with the pair both at least two weeks away.

Geelong’s AFLW team will wear the Club’s 2024 First Nations guernsey, titled ‘Layers of the Land’, in Week 9 and Week 10 as part of the AFLW’s Indigenous Round.

Launched earlier this year ahead of the AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round, the guernsey, designed by Keerray Woorroong and Yorta Yorta woman Sherry Johnstone, speaks to the importance of looking after our environment and celebrating the unique elements of the Australian landscape that First Nations people have called home for more than 60,000 years.

Geelong will celebrate AFLW Indigenous Round at its final home and away game for 2024 on Friday November 1 when they take on Kuwarna (Adelaide Crows) in Week 10 Friday night clash at GMHBA Stadium. Tickets are now on sale via Ticketmaster.

Geelong Cats Deakin Health Update Week 9