Geelong Cats is pleased to confirm seven players have signed one-year contract extensions for the 2025 NAB AFLW Season. 

2024 captain Meghan McDonald is among the seven, along with Kate Darby, Shelley Scott, Kate Surman, Melissa Bragg, Gabbi Featherston and Caitlin Thorne. 

An inaugural Cat, McDonald has played 66 games in the Hoops since 2019, following four appearances for the Western Bulldogs in 2017, and has been captain for the past five seasons. 

Darby joined Geelong for the Cats’ first year in the competition in 2019 and has since played 52 games in the Hoops out of 54 career games, while Scott crossed to Geelong via a trade ahead of 2022 Season 7 and has played 28 of her 77 career games in the Hoops. 

Surman joined Geelong via a trade ahead of the 2023 season, having previously played with Gold Coast Suns and Port Adelaide, and has played an important linking role between midfield and attack, and had a career-high 29 score involvements in 2024. 

Selected with pick 9 in the 2021 AFLW Draft, Featherston enjoyed her most consistent season in 2024, playing eight games as she supported Darby in the ruck. 

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AFLW Draftees Club Tour

Our new AFLW draftees and their families came down to the club to tour the new facilities.

Bragg joined Geelong via its VFLW program after making the switch from elite netball, and has played 15 games, lining up predominantly in defence, but with the ability to switch forward or support in the ruck. 

Recruited ahead of the 2024 season as a replacement player, Thorne played five games in 2024, playing a supporting role in the midfield.  

“We’re thrilled to re-sign seven players who played important roles in our 2024 campaign,” Geelong Cats Assistant General Manager of Football Brett Johnson said. 

“Meghan has been an outstanding leader for us for many years, while Kate Darby, Shelley and Kate Surman all bring valuable experience and leadership to our squad. 

“It was exciting to see the continued development of Gabbi and Mel. Although coming into our program late in the piece as a replacement player, Caitlin was also impressive with the way she handled her first season in the AFLW. 

“With a good mix of experience, youth and potential, were excited to see all seven players pull the Hoops on again in 2025.”  

The Cats have one spot remaining on their list heading into the 2025 season.