The Geelong Cats AFLW team is facing a major transformation as three key players have simultaneously announced their retirement, creating one of the most significant roster changes in the club's women's football history.
Shelley Scott, who joined the Cats ahead of the 2022 season after beginning her career with Melbourne, has decided to hang up her boots after 44 AFLW games. The experienced forward made her mark with Geelong, playing 17 games and kicking 7 goals during her tenure at the club.
Scott's retirement comes alongside two other crucial departures from the Cats' lineup. Meghan McDonald, who served as club captain, and fellow forward Kate Darby have also confirmed they won't be returning for the upcoming season.
Leadership Void Creates Challenge
The triple departure creates immediate challenges for the Cats, particularly in leadership and experience. McDonald's exit as captain leaves a significant leadership vacuum that the club will need to fill during the off-season.
Scott expressed mixed emotions about her decision, acknowledging the difficulty of stepping away from the game she loves. "It's never an easy decision to retire," she stated, "but I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have played at the highest level."
Building for the Future
While losing three established players in one sweep presents obstacles, it also opens opportunities for new talent to emerge within the Geelong system. The club now faces the task of rebuilding their forward line and leadership group ahead of the next AFLW campaign.
The retirements mark the end of an era for the Cats' women's program, which now must navigate this transitional period while maintaining competitive performance in the increasingly tough AFLW competition.
