Chloe Scheer, Sienna Tallariti and Rachel Kearns among Geelong’s AFLW rehab group following surgeries

Geelong star Chloe Scheer missed the 2024 AFLW season through injury, and while off-season surgery has seen her start pre-season in the rehab group, a teammate has backed her in to push for an early season return.

Anne Hatchard of the Crows and Chloe Scheer of the Cats talk on ground after both teams’ round 10 fixture in 2024. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Kate Surman says fellow Geelong forward Chloe Scheer is doing “everything she can” to be fit for the Cats’ AFLW season-opener in August following off-season surgery.

Geelong’s new Head of AFLW Dominique Condo confirmed Scheer, who had her 2024 season wiped out with a toe injury, was currently in the rehab program following toe surgery, with draftee Sienna Tallariti and Irish defender Rachel Kearns also in the rehab group after ankle surgeries, though there is no timeline for all three’s returns.

One of the league’s most damaging forwards when up and running, 25-year-old Scheer was a big out for the Cats in 2024, as they went from 2023 preliminary finalists to bottom 8 last year.

Despite Scheer’s delayed start to pre-season, Surman, speaking from the Cats’ AFW Community Camp in Warrnambool, said the key forward was “ticking every box, every week”.

“She’s doing everything she can to make it back to round 1,” Surman said.

“She’s a massive in, she’s an absolute ripper player so having that adds another element (up forward), you’ve got Lingy (Aishling Moloney) – she doesn’t know what she’s doing, let alone the defender.

“Then Jackie (Parry) will get the third defender, so we’re pretty lucky in this forward line, and what I’ve noticed this pre-season is we’ve really gelled as a group and really working together.

“They say the forward line is usually the toughest line to coach – but I’d say we’re a pretty easy bunch and all pretty selfless.”

Meanwhile, Surman has backed in two new draftees to help fill roles in the Cats’ defence in Tallariti and Alexis Gregor, after Anna-Rose Kennedy (personal reasons) and Chantel Emonson (pregnancy) went on the inactive list.

Surman described Tallariti as “a beautiful ball user”, while Gregor is a strong key position player who has slotted into the backline.

The Cats’ fall from finals contentions last year came despite brandishing an exciting attacking style of play, as decision making and an inability to take their chances at times inside 50 hurt, while a tougher fixture and injury pile up late in the year didn’t help.

Kate Surman was a key link between the Cats’ midfield and attack in 2024. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Off the back of a disappointing 10th place finish, Surman said the Cats would focus on their connection as a group, rather than any expectation of playing finals.

“When you make finals one year, you go all right, okay next year, that’s the expectation and I think this year, we’re taking every week, week- by-week really and just enjoying being together,” the 33-year-old said.

“I think when you have a hard year, it is hard to connect, so I think this year, we’ve made more of an effort to connect.

“We’ve got a rippa of a group, so it’s not hard too do that.”

Surman, who spends her off-seasons back on the Gold Coast, said she welcomed a number of teammates up north over the break, including her Irish teammates and Georgie Rankin, who also hails from Queensland.

And though Surman said she made an effort to touch base with teammates over a five-month off-season, she also believed it was nice to “miss each other” ahead of pre-season.

“Especially when I’m a bigger personality, you can only have me for a small amount of time,” she laughed.

Lowther lauds player movement move

Geelong AFLW coach Dan Lowther backed the AFL’s move to introduce future pick swaps, saying it was needed to support equalisation and help clubs act on talent quicker.

The AFL Commission last week ticked off a raft of rule changes for the women’s competition, with clubs soon able to trade future picks as part of the evolution of player movement, while a pre-season draft is also set to be introduced.

Clubs had previously only been able to trade picks in the upcoming draft, with the change offering flexibility for teams to trade a future first round selection or their future second round selection – though not both.

“For the equalisation and to bring talent into your team, you need to be able to act on those things a touch earlier than what we’ve been able to in the past,” Lowther said.

“The draft’s a great tool for that, but to make some moves to keep you three or four steps ahead of the competition, future trades are a good way to explore it.

“Our recruiting team has got their hats on already about how we can support that going forward, but I think it’s a good move from the AFL.”

The Cats have brought six players into their AFLW program ahead of the 2025 season, Caitlin Tipping as a rookie signing, Sienna Tallariti, Lexi Gregor and Piper Dunlop through the national draft and Emma Kilpatrick and Erica Fowler as replacement players.

• The Cats open their season at home against reigning premiers North Melbourne on August 16.

Originally published as Chloe Scheer, Sienna Tallariti and Rachel Kearns among Geelong’s AFLW rehab group following surgeries