Rachel Kearns, Aishling Moloney among core Irish talent pushing Geelong towards AFLW success

An Irish flair has filtered into the AFLW in recent seasons, with Geelong’s own Irish foursome quickly becoming household names both in hoops and across the wider competition.

Geelong’s Irish AFLW contingent, Aishling Moloney, Rachel Kearns, Kate Kenny and Anna-Rose Kennedy. Picture: Brad Fleet

Rachel Kearns holds the honour of being Geelong’s first-ever Irish AFLW player but having three of her fellow compatriots by her side in recent seasons has made Kardinia Park feel more like home.

With the numbers of Irish talent in the league rising to 36 this year — and many anticipating more to arrive in coming seasons — Kearns, along with Aishling Moloney, Anna-Rose Kennedy and Kate Kenny, have become key figures in the Cats’ future.

Irish recruit Anna-Rose Kennedy has cemented a sport in Geelong defence in 2024. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

With Kearns now firmly cemented in the backline and Tipperary teammates Moloney and Kennedy key bookends in attack and defence, Kate Kenny rounded out the group as a promising forward this year, though injury has cut the 22-year-old’s first season short.

In her third year in Geelong, Kearns, 27, was somewhat forced to learn to swim by herself when first arriving from Mayo — a challenge she described as a personal life achievement — and has tried to be someone her younger Irish teammates can turn too, even though at times they haven’t needed it.

“When the girls came in, we’d say, they always had me to ask questions, but they’d be the same, they’d be quite independent themselves,” Kearns said.

“It’s just great having them in, like, you’d say, it's like a touch of home away from home.”

Kate Kenny (right) celebrates a goal with teammates earlier this season. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

After Kennedy overcame an injury-riddled first season at the Cattery, Kearns has embraced having the 23-year-old alongside her as a regular in defence.

“Having Anna-Rose (in defence), it’s great because you know her runs, what she’s going to do, it’s more familiar to me than probably other people and we bounce off each other well,” she said.

“...you can even find the connection, how we come together even after games and doing vision together and we kind of relate it to Gaelic footy back home because that’s what we’ve known all our lives, that’s our way of learning together.

“And I’m sure Aishling and Kate have that connection in the forward line.”

‘Get Aishling Moloney over’

During her first season at Geelong, Kearns was asked by Cats’ operations and recruiting manager Ben Waller who was one player she’d get over from Ireland.

Rattling some names off, Kearns had a clear answer: Aishling Moloney.

“I was like, no matter what anyone else says, if you want someone, get Aishling Moloney over,” Kearns said.

“You could just tell, even back home she was just such a competitor.

“The way she just plays a lovely, free-flowing game, when she gets the ball, everyone else slows down, that’s just the ability she has and she’s the same back home.”

Geelong’s Aishling Moloney has become the Cats’ most potent forward threat in season 2024. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

The proof is in the pudding, Moloney looming as a likely lock for All Australian honours in just her second season in Australia as she enters the final round this weekend leading the goal kicking with a new league record of 21.

Growing up on Gaelic football, Moloney said it had been somewhat “mad” to see her skills translate to the Australian code after spending a large part of her first season learning the game.

“Last year when I look back, I almost kind of laugh,” Moloney said.

“Last year you’re in the middle of it and you don’t think or realise until this year how much the element of learning the game (takes up) and probably how much we had to take in, in terms of structure.

“But for me this year, I had known all the basics and foundations and it was more so backing in my skills.”

Both Moloney and Kearns remain motivated to play both Gaelic and AFLW in the future.

“I’ve grown up in Ireland playing 12 months of the year, so this is no different except you’re moving country for six months of the year,” Moloney said.

“I’m really excited, I’ve really loved my last two years here at Geelong and I’m excited to go further... I can’t wait.”

While Kearns admitted some people in Ireland weren't happy about the exodus of Gaelic players to the AFLW, she said it was a “no-brainer” for athletes to take up the opportunity to train in professional environments and get paid to play.

Rachel Kearns absorbs contact from Carlton’s Tarni Brown earlier this season. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

This year, Kearns, who thrives on the physical aspect of AFLW, made the decision to remain in Geelong during the off-season.

Though unsure what she will do next season, Kearns said she got “a lot out of” staying in Geelong, getting extra AFLW work in and playing local soccer with Geelong Galaxy.

‘Little things go a long way’

Long stretches away from home can take its toll but Kearns and Moloney know it’s only a matter of time before they’re reunited with loved ones.

Until then, their attention is directly focused on team success and individual improvement at Geelong.

Anna-Rose Kennedy told the Geelong Advertiser earlier this week her and Moloney’s parents may make the trip to Australia if the Cats make finals, though Moloney insisted it wouldn’t be her main motivator come Friday’s must-win game against Adelaide.

“When I’m out here, you have to accept you’re 24 hours away from home,” Moloney said.

“It’s obviously very nice if I do get them out here, but I’m going to see them in eight or nine weeks potentially anyway so regardless if they do or don’t come out, I have to knuckle down here and concentrate on what I have to do.”

But the rare chance to engage with family after a game is always welcomed, with Moloney’s cousin at last week’s game in Perth offering up a surprise.

“She had mum and dad on Facetime, which was really nice for me,” Moloney said.

“It was something so small and I had never thought of it, you’re not going to ring them yourself I suppose, because you don’t have your phone but when someone hands you the phone... mum and dad and a family friend was there who has followed me since I’ve been about seven, it was really nice to have that.

“Little things like that go a long way.”

Originally published as Rachel Kearns, Aishling Moloney among core Irish talent pushing Geelong towards AFLW success