AFLW 2023: The rise of debutant Anna-Rose Kennedy as Geelong explains father-daughter decision

Another Irish Cat is making her debut in Geelong’s biggest game of its existence. Plus, the Cats have made a decision on two of their father-daughter prospects.

Anna-Rose Kennedy and Aishling Moloney.

It is one thing to make your debut in a preliminary final, but it’s another to achieve the feat in your first legitimate game of Aussie rules.

That’s what is ahead of Irish recruit Anna-Rose Kennedy, who on Thursday night received a shock call-up to face Brisbane at the Gabba.

Kennedy, who arrived with sensation Aishling Moloney just weeks before this season from county Tipperary, has played just two scrimmage matches against AFLW opposition.

When you consider she sat out several weeks with a foot injury early in the season, Kennedy’s inclusion for the Cats’ biggest game in their AFLW existence is even more remarkable.

The athletic outside runner’s form in match simulation at Cats training has earnt her a preliminary final spot, and she is tipped to be used in defence or on a wing to help cover for injured young gun Zali Friswell.

Geelong assistant football boss Brett Johnson said she has come a long way, like her good friend Moloney, and he expects the cool customer to be just fine on the big stage.

Anna-Rose Kennedywill make her debut on Saturday. Picture: Alan Barber

“Anna-Rose sustained a bit of a foot injury early in the season which limited her training throughout the middle part of the year and only in this past month, solid month of training has warranted her selection in the team,” Johnson said.

“She showed at training that she can play the role that we need and just her athleticism is such an asset that it makes it hard not to pick her because in these type of games that sort of stuff comes to the fore.

“Nothing really seems to worry her or she doesn’t get flustered. Even when we told her about playing she just took it in her stride.

“I think with both Aishling and Anna-Rose, when we recruited them from Ireland we knew they’d come in and have an immediate impact. The transition from Gaelic footy to Aussie seems to quite a good one for a lot of Irish players.”

There was more good news to come for the Cats after their thrilling semi-final win over Melbourne, with the club officially nominating prospect Bryde O’Rourke as a father-daughter selection.

But Geelong VFLW star and VFLW league-best-and-fairest Charlotte Simpson, the daughter of former Geelong and St Kilda player Sean, was instead nominated by the Saints.

O’Rourke, the daughter of Ray who played two games for Geelong in 1969, has been touted as a potential top-20 prospect in next month’s AFLW Draft, with the Cats awaiting a possible first-round bid.

The speedster represented Vic Country at the national championships and averaged 16.1 disposals and kicked six goals across 11 games for the Bendigo Pioneers in the Coates Talent League.

The club could not guarantee Simpson, the brother of delisted Cat Sam, a spot on the list despite her breakout campaign, given they are unlikely to use many selections at the AFLW Draft.

Johnson is excited by O’Rourke’s looming arrival and wishes Simpson all the best for the draft, believing she has what it takes to play at the next level.

Bryda O'Rourke has been nominated as a father-daughter selection

Charlotte Simpson won the VFLW best and fairest for her season with Geelong, but has instead been nominated by St Kilda as a father-daughter selection. Picture: Brad Fleet

“Really pleased to be able to put in that nomination. Bryde we have been watching closely for a long time,” Johnson said.

“Bryde is a really athletic outside runner who can play inside as well. Can play inside, on the wing, half back, a lot of flexibility. She is a really good size as well, really good overhead. She had a really good season.

“We suspect that she will go quite high in the draft.

“We had a number of chats with Charlotte. We are really hopeful that she will get an opportunity. She has had a fantastic season at VFLW, her attitude has been first class and worked on the things that we have spoken to her about.

“We think Charlotte is ready to play AFLW football and we are just unsure at this point in terms of how many picks we have and what it looks like so we couldn’t give any guarantees unfortunately.”

Originally published as AFLW 2023: The rise of debutant Anna-Rose Kennedy as Geelong explains father-daughter decision