Recently retired Geelong Cats AFLW player Kate Darby has been named the winner of the 2025 AFLW Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award.
The prestigious community award is awarded to one AFLW and one AFL player each year, recognising philanthropic achievements within the community, and is named in honour of late Melbourne Football Club great Jim Stynes.
Darby, who hung up the boots after 59 AFLW games earlier this month, has been recognised for her outstanding leadership and commitment to building connection, inclusion and participation across the Geelong community across her career.
Through Cats Community programs, she has volunteered hundreds of hours with local schools, hospitals and grassroots clubs, supporting initiatives such as Cats Wishes, BioCATS, Healthy Heroes, and the club’s Pride and Inclusion programs.
Darby’s work spans hospital visits with Barwon Health and the Peace of Mind Foundation, mentoring through Ocean Mind’s surf-based mental health programs, and advocacy for women and girls in football.
She volunteers with local clubs including Surf Coast Suns, Torquay Tigers, Armstrong Creek, Bell Park Dragons (All-Abilities) and the Geelong Falcons, while championing family-friendly environments and supporting mothers in sport.
In 2024, Darby became a Coach Your Way Ambassador and was awarded the 2025 AFL Coaches Association Women’s Coaching Pathway Scholarship, recognising her leadership in inclusive coaching. Her ongoing work with the Fight Cancer Foundation, Friend in Me and as a registered GoodSAM responder further highlights her community impact.
Darby’s authentic commitment to use her platform to uplift others, makes football a more inclusive and welcoming space for all.
Geelong Cats CEO Steve Hocking congratulated Darby on winning the award.
“We have long had the benefit of seeing up close how amazing, authentic and impactful Kate’s work in the community is, and we’re so proud of her to be receiving the recognition as the 2025 recipient of the AFLW Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award,” Hocking said.
“It is a fitting reward for Kate as she finishes her AFLW career to have her community work highlighted with such a prestigious award. Throughout her time at the Club, Kate has been an inspiration and example to her teammates, and we know that part of her legacy at Geelong will be the lasting impact she has made in the community.”
AFL CEO, Andrew Dillon congratulated Darby on her achievement.
“On behalf of the AFL, I would like to congratulate Kate for receiving the 2025 Jim Stynes Foundation Community Leadership Award,” Dillon said.
“Kate exemplifies the spirit of community – a value that sits at the heart of Australian football – and we have been so lucky to have such a strong role model within the game.
“Despite announcing her retirement from professional football, Kate’s dedication will be a lasting legacy, and we wish her all the very best for her future endeavours.
“I’d also like to thank the Jim Stynes Foundation, for their continued support to formally recognise players doing good within their communities, with Kate receiving $40,000 to donate to her charity or community program through a combined contribution.”
Nominations for the award are submitted from AFL clubs and the AFL Players' Association before the judging panel selects the finalists.
Chaired by Trisha Squires, Head of AFL QLD and International, the 11-person panel is comprised of respected leaders from the AFL, media and community sectors, including representatives from the AFL, AFLPA and the Stynes family.
In a collaboration between the AFL and the Jim Stynes Foundation, the winner of the award receives $40,000 to be donated to the charity or community program of their choice.
Darby has nominated Peace of Mind, Ocean Minds and Our Village charities to receive shares of the donation.
