Katie Loynes excited to run out in navy Blue after barracking for Carlton as a child

KATIE Loynes has overcome several injuries to make her AFLW dream come true. Her next challenge is to make her Magpie-supporting mum love Carlton.

KATIE Loynes was already not her mum’s favourite child.

After Carlton’s premiership triumph over Geelong in 1995, a nine-year-old Loynes decided she was supporting the Blues, a side Collingwood-loving mother Janette could not have hated much more.

There has been rivalry within the family ever since, but as Katie prepares to pull on the navy blue against the Magpies in the first AFL Women’s match on Friday night, it seems Janette has finally found a soft spot for the club she has so long despised.

ROUND 1: AFLW LINE-UPS REVEAL FOR HISTORIC WEEKEND

AFL OPENER: FRIENDS TURN FOES IN MAGPIES-BLUES RIVALRY

“My mum is a Collingwood supporter but she’s got a Carlton polo that she’ll be wearing,” Loynes said.

“She’s very excited for Friday night.”

Likewise, the new Blues midfielder is eagerly anticipating the occasion as she prepares to run out in front of what is expected to be a bumper crowd at Carlton’s traditional home, Princes Park.

(From left) Blues’ Sarah Hosking, Madeline Keryk, Bianca Jakobsson, Katie Loynes and Natalie Plane. Picture: David Caird

She will do so wearing the No.2 made famous by Greg Williams, the Norm Smith Medallist in that 1995 Grand Final and also a two-time Brownlow Medal-winning onballer.

“It will be really exciting to put everything into practice that we’ve been doing over preseason into the game on Friday night,” Loynes said.

“I hope we come out and play a really good quality game of football that the fans really enjoy.”

After eight years playing at Berwick, Loynes transferred to Diamond Creek in 2012 and had an immediate impact as she helped the Creekers to an unlikely state league flag over powerhouse Darebin Falcons in her first season.

Left leg injuries have hampered her career since — having two ACLs and an ankle reconstruction — however the 30-year-old said she was fit again and ready to go for the AFLW season.

“I’m hoping that’s the end of the knee injuries and a fresh start with Carlton will change that fortune over a little bit,” Loynes said.

“I think this is the first preseason I’ve had in five years so I’m feeling really good body-wise.”

Friday’s match kicks off at 7.45pm.

Entry is free, with the AFL hoping as many as 20,000 fans will attend.

The match will also be broadcast live on Fox Footy.

Originally published as Katie Loynes excited to run out in navy Blue after barracking for Carlton as a child