Heading into 2022 with one of the younger lists in the league, bringing in experienced players was key to the Geelong’s plans to move up the AFL Women’s ladder. 

With that focus, the Cats’ recruiting team had clear criteria in mind for players who would complement the existing group and help it continue in its development journey. 

“That was some of the key criteria that we were looking at in terms of introducing players to the club,” Geelong Head of AFLW and Pathways Brett Johnson said. 

“The competition has improved so much, it’s important that we bring in players that we know are going to consistently show up and train, and train with the right attitude and help elevate standards.”

In Season 6, the club brought in Adelaide premiership forward Chloe Scheer, as well as experienced Melbourne defender Chantel Emonson, while Season 7 saw Demons duo Shelley Scott and Jackie Parry, as well West Coast Eagles winger Mikayla Bowen and young Richmond winger Ingrid Houtsma join the list. 

Scheer took her game to a new level in Season 7, establishing herself as one of the best forwards in the league, earning her first All-Australian selection after booting 13 goals and proving near unbeatable in contested marking situations. 

Emonson has become a key figure for the Cats across half-back, starting many attacking passages, and her leadership ability was immediately recognised with elevation to the player leadership group in her first season. 

Season 7 recruits Scott, Bowen and Parry all became regulars in the side, with Scott starting the season in defence, before making the switch back to her familiar position up forward to great effect from Round 5. 

Bowen established her position on the wing, teaming beautifully with Nina Morrison and Zali Friswell, while Parry settled in as a tall target up forward. 

Johnson lauded what all of the new recruits and draftees have brought to the program, highlighting the great leadership from Scott and Bowen in particular. 

“I think being able to introduce someone like Shelley Scott who has been a leader at a good program in Melbourne, and then to introduce someone like Mikayla Bowen over from the west who, at 21, is already a leader herself, and has terrific work ethic, has played a key role in our continued development,” Johnson said. 

“It was something we really wanted to prioritise, and I feel like each of those players has brought something to the group in their own way. 

“Then to add that group to our core group who have really terrific standards and work ethic, it’s just really helped raise the bar, which is great.” 

Geelong also looked abroad to find mature talent from other sports, bringing in Irish star Rachel Kearns, who had an impressive résumé of sports, including Gaelic Football, soccer and boxing.

Super Netballer Sammy Gooden joined as an Other Sport Rookie, before a pre-existing knee injury saw her moved to the inactive list, opening the door for young VFLW ruck Kalani Scoullar to join the AFLW squad.

The Cats welcomed a host of players through the draft, as mature age recruits and cross-code rookies as they worked their way from one win in Season 5, to seven wins and a finals appearance in Season 7.

“Nineteen new players in the space of 12 months is quite extraordinary, really,” Johnson said. 

“Probably one of the most pleasing things from my point of view was to see the team come together, and that’s a credit to the players that we brought in. And that’s through bringing in players from other clubs, through our VFLW program, from the draft – we drafted from this region as well as the metro region, and Ireland with Rachel Kearns. 

“To see the players come together, it’s a credit to the new players we brought in, but also to the existing players to really embrace those new players coming in. 

“The footy that they played – particularly in the back end of Season 7 – was really pleasing.”