Meg McDonald will lead the Cats for a second consecutive year in 2022, after a six-player leadership group was announced.

Nina Morrison has been elevated to vice-captain with Georgie Rankin, Julia Crockett-Grills and Chantel Emonson first-time members, and Maddy Keryk returning for a second year.

“This group has many exceptional leaders and importantly their team mates and staff view them as true leaders,” Geelong’s head of AFLW and pathways Brett Johnson said.

“Meg has already shown herself to be a great captain. Nina has always had excellent leadership, and as she has grown as a player this has come to the fore within our team.

“Maddy has been in a number of leadership roles throughout her AFLW career. Julia and Georgie have really developed as leaders and players since joining the club and Chantel has quickly made an impression since switching to us from Melbourne.”

McDonald earned her second All Australian selection in 2021 while captaining the Cats for the first time. She has played 21 games in her three seasons at GMHBA Stadium, claimed the best & fairest in 2019 and was runner up in the award in 2021.

Morrison has overcome injury setbacks to be named as vice captain. A member of the leadership group last season, Morrison has been limited to just seven games, but she is one of the hardest working players among the group. 

Keryk and Crockett-Grills have played all 23 games that Cats have contested since joining the AFLW in 2019. Rankin, another original member of the club’s AFLW program, has played 14 games. 

Emonson joined the Cats from Melbourne and has shown her leadership ability through a tough pre-season. She played 22 games with the Demons.