AFLW 2024: Geelong forward Kate Kenny out with season-ending ankle injury

A lingering injury has cut a Cats’ promising debut season short, while a number of players are closing in on returns ahead of Saturday’s trip to Perth. All the latest updates.

Geelong forward Kate Kenny celebrates kicking a goal earlier this season. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

A lingering ankle injury has spelt season over for Geelong forward Kate Kenny.

The Irish cross-coder has missed the past two games, ruled out against Richmond on October 12 with the ankle injury while on Sunday against Brisbane she was named an emergency.

The Cats have confirmed a stress fracture in her navicular bone was season-ending with the 22-year-old already commencing rehab.

Kate Kenny has featured seven times in her debut season at Geelong. Picture: Brendon Thorne/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“It’s looking likely she won’t play in the next couple weeks anyway,” Cats coach Dan Lowther said on Tuesday.

“Just a lingering ankle issue she’s had for a little while but she’s managed it really well.

“Maybe a couple weeks ago it got to the point where were like, ‘we need to have a different approach.”

Lowther said Kenny had great support at the moment, with her parents currently in town from Ireland.

A Gaelic star back home, Kenny has played seven games in her first year at the Cattery, averaging 6.9 disposals while she’s kicked two goals this season, including a 60m bomb against Gold Coast.

Fellow Irish talent Rachel Kearns is in line to return for the Cats’ round 9 clash against West Coast on Saturday night, after the defender missed Sunday’s win over the Lions through concussion protocols.

Star midfielder Amy McDonald was close to playing against the Lions though the Cats chose to err on side of caution with her return from a hamstring injury, with Lowther confirming if McDonald gets through Wednesday training, she was all but certain to be selected.

Meanwhile, the coach said scan results came back positive for Gabbi Featherston, who was ruled out in the game against Brisbane with hamstring awareness. It’s expected the Cats will look to manage the 20-year-old throughout this week, with her availability also subject to training.

Darcy Moloney (foot) will be sidelined for another week, while forward Chloe Scheer’s possible return from a toe injury has also been limited to the Cats’ final home-and-away game against Adelaide.

“It’s touch and go, everything she’s doing from week-to-week, session-to-session suggests she’s still a chance but again it’s going to be the time factor,” Lowther said of Scheer.

Originally published as AFLW 2024: Geelong forward Kate Kenny out with season-ending ankle injury