Geelong has selected forward Mia Skinner with its first selection in the 2022 NAB AFL Women’s Draft, taken with the 33rd pick overall.  

A medium-sized goal kicker originally from Torquay, Skinner initially joined Geelong at the 2019 draft via the Geelong Falcons but wasn’t able to play a game after suffering a stress fracture to her femur.

As the deputy vice-captain of the Cats VFLW side in 2022, Skinner proved dangerous around goal, kicking 21 majors and taking out the club’s leading goal kicker award.

"It’s very exciting to get Mia back to the club", Geelong Head of AFLW, Football Pathways and Player Development Brett Johnson said. "We've always rated her as a forward."

"With her injuries in the first couple of years at the Cats, we had to let her go but her form in the VFL has been fantastic, so it’s great that she gets another opportunity." 

Johnson said it was difficult letting Skinner go initially but it's worked out well for both parties as she now gets her second chance at the top level. 

"After a couple of years at AFLW level she just couldn’t get on the track with her injuries," he said.

"In the end, it was a good decision for both us and Mia because it gave her the opportunity to go away and work on her body, her independence, and her leadership and she’s really thrived at VFLW level, I think she ended up kicking over 20 goals. 

"Her ability to hit the scoreboard hasn’t changed, we’ve always known that, but to see her do it at senior level we’re hoping now she can do a full AFLW preseason and do the same at AFLW level."