She-Cats on AFL stage

Geelong will soon feature in the nation’s elite women’s football league after it won a licence to play in the AFLW from the 2019 season.
The Cats successfully fielded a team in the VFLW this year, winning eight out of 14 games to just miss the finals.
Geelong Cats CEO Brian Cook said the licence was a significant win in the club’s 158-year history.
“This is an exciting and proud day for our club,” Cook said on Wednesday.
“We have been a strong supporter of AFLW, and we are thrilled to be joining the league in 2019.”
Cook described the decision to field a women’s team as one of the club’s best, with female participation in the region growing at a “huge rate”.
“To now be able to move into the AFLW in 2019 is the next step for us, and one that we are ready to take,” Cook said.
“We will offer inspiration to aspiring players throughout the region, and our supporters and members will embrace this team.
“Our players have first class facilities, and there will be greater pathways into off-field roles for coaches, administrators and specialists.
“The club will begin preparing for its entry in 2019 and look forward to growing the game.”
Jordan Ivey and Danielle Higgins, who were key members of the Cats VFLW team in 2017, couldn’t be happier with the AFL’s decision.
“It has been a nervous wait,” Higgins said.
“That was our main goal, to get a team in the AFLW competition. We’re just so stoked for that to happen.”
Ivey added her thanks to those behind the scenes that put the Cats bid and program together.
“I’m just really happy for everyone who has been behind the application and really excited for the Geelong public to finally have a team to support in the AFLW,” Ivey said.
The Cats will remain in the VFLW in 2018, then the club will field teams in both the VFLW and AFLW from 2019.
The Cats signed more than 600 Women’s Pioneer Members in 2017 and large crowds turned out to watch the team’s home matches, according to the club.