Kate Darby’s incredible commitment to the community has been recognised with a fourth Geelong Cats AFLW Carter Family Community Champion award.

Darby was announced as winner of the award at Saturday night’s Geelong Cats AFLW Best & Fairest event, celebrating her genuine care and enthusiasm to working in the community, both through Cats Community programs and external organisations.

The 33-year-old continues as an ambassador to support the Peace of Mind Foundation, which works to give support, courage and create a community for people with brain cancer and their families and loved ones.

Darby has been a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, and has been involved in a range of Cats Community programs and partnerships including football clinics, Auskick Graduation, the Dulux Community Bay, Coles Health Kicks and more.

She also attended every session of the Resilience Project during the Geelong Cluster Week, which involved sessions with primary school students, secondary school students and a teacher professional development event.

Darby continued with her support of game development activities, inspiring and encouraging a new generation of footballers. In her own time, she generously visits local clubs and participates in a range of community events.

Darby also had an important and positive influence on the Club’s football redevelopment project, and was a terrific advocate and important contributor to the development of the new Parents Room, drawing on her role and experience as a parent to influence the development of a warm and welcoming space for all.

As well as being an active contributor in the community, Darby has also been a terrific leader and role model for her teammates and the Club as a whole, supporting others to get involved in community initiatives, driving a Team of All approach and demonstrating true Geelong hospitality.

As part of the award, Geelong Football Club will make a donation of $500 to Darby’s nominated charity, Friend in Me.

Darby previously won the Club’s community award in 2019 and 2023, and was joint-winner with Georgie Rankin in 2022 Season 7.