Geelong Cats AFLW captain Meghan McDonald has announced she will retire at the end of the 2025 NAB AFLW Season.

An inaugural AFLW player, McDonald started her career as a forward with the Western Bulldogs in 2017, playing four games at senior level that year.

McDonald then returned to the Darebin Falcons – a team she had won premierships with in 2016 and 2017 – to further develop her craft in the VFLW, and was one of the Cats’ early signings for its AFLW team when it entered the competition in 2019.

Having grown her game as a defender, McDonald was a standout in her first season at the Cats, winning Geelong’s AFLW Best & Fairest award, as well as being named in the league’s All-Australian team that year.

She was added to the Cats’ Player Leadership Group as vice-captain the following year, before being elevated to the captaincy following Melissa Hickey’s retirement, and has held the position for the past six seasons, making her the longest-serving captain in Geelong’s AFLW program.

As a defender, McDonald’s determination and ability to read the play has stood out, with her intercepting and spoiling key features of her game, as well as her strong one-on-one contest work.

McDonald has guided the Cats through a transformative period of growth as an AFLW program, and led from the front during the team’s 2022 Season 7 and 2023 Finals campaigns.

McDonald is in line to play her 76th AFLW game in Saturday’s clash with Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium, which would also be her 72nd in the Hoops and see her draw level with Julia Crockett-Grills for second-most AFLW games played for Geelong.

Fans will get the opportunity to farewell McDonald at Saturday’s game against Melbourne, with the 34-year-old to be celebrated with a guard of honour at the conclusion of the game.

“This game, the clubs and communities where I’ve played it, and the people I’ve played it with, have changed the course of my life,” McDonald said.

“I have been incredibly fortunate that the timing of my career has allowed me to experience the inception of the AFLW competition, to have played at the Cats since the inauguration of our AFLW team, and to retire alongside professional athletes. 

“I’ll always be thankful for and proud of the opportunity to play for and Captain the Geelong Football Club. It has brought the most wonderful people into my life, taught me so much about service, community, and togetherness, and satisfied the dreams of a girl who grew up with a footy in her hands. 

“I retire fulfilled and full of gratitude for everyone who has support and enriched my career and look forward with such excitement to watching my team continue to grow, evolve, and achieve success. I’ll be its biggest supporter.”

Geelong Cats Senior Coach Dan Lowther congratulated McDonald on her career.

“Meg has been a fantastic leader on and off the field and has played an integral role in building our AFLW program into what it is today,” Lowther said.

“Meg has built her standing in the wider AFLW community as a leader and advocate for the sport, and her impact has extended far beyond Geelong. We’ve been fortunate to have seen her continually grow in the role, and to have had someone of her standing in the football community involved in our program.

“Meg is the pinnacle of professionalism and the standard-setter at training, and has had a profound impact on our program. We wish her all the very best for her next chapter.”

Geelong Cats CEO Steve Hocking also paid tribute to McDonald’s career.

“Meg has been an exceptional player, leader and, most importantly, person at our football club,” Hocking said.

“She has steered our AFLW program magnificently over the past six seasons and been a wise and intelligent voice not just for our women’s team, but for our Club as a whole, and we have all felt the benefit of her leadership across departments.

“As a Club, we congratulate Meg on a magnificent career, and wish her well for the future.”

Geelong takes on Melbourne this Saturday at GMHBA Stadium, with first bounce at 7.15pm.

Be there to farewell Meghan McDonald in the Cats’ last home game for the season. Get your tickets today through Ticketmaster.