Geelong Cats will unveil two debutants in Saturday’s season-opener against North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos, with Piper Dunlop and Emma Kilpatrick set to play their first AFLW games. 

Dunlop joined the Cats via pick 37 in the 2024 Telstra AFLW Draft, having spent last year on the Cats’ VFLW list and earning a spot as a train-on player for the 2024 AFLW season. 

The 186cm athletic ruck comes from a basketball background and impressed over the Cats’ pre-season matches, most notably showing promise against the Gold Coast Suns with her ruck work and contested marking. 

Kilpatrick signed with the Cats in May as a replacement player and has put in an impressive body of work over the pre-season, including the Cats’ two pre-season matches. 

02:17

Double Debut For Round 1 | Dunlop & Kilpatrick To Pull On The Hoops

Piper Dunlop & Emma Kilpatrick will be the newest Cats to pull on the Hoops after being told of their selections for Round 1.

While just 19 years old, Kilpatrick already has four seasons of senior football to her credit with West Adelaide in the SANFLW. A highly-skilled and hard running player who can impact on the wing or in defence, Kilpatrick was a member of the South Australian Under 18 National Championships squad last season and finished runner-up in West Adelaide’s Best & Fairest award. 

Geelong’s full AFLW Round 1 team will be announced at 6.20pm AEST tonight. 

The Cats take on the Kangaroos this Saturday at GMHBA Stadium at 3.35pm. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. 

The best way to catch all the action in 2025 is as a Cats AFLW Member. Head to membership.geelongcats.com.au to join the Mighty Blue and White today.