| Kate Darby | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Darby with Geelong in February 2020 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | 18 November 1990 | ||
| Draft | No. 126, 2016 AFL Women's draft | ||
| Debut | Round 2, 2017, Carlton vs. Greater Western Sydney, at Ikon Park | ||
| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender / Forward | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2017 | Carlton | 2 (0) | |
| 2019– | Geelong | 41 (16) | |
| Total | 43 (16) | ||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2023 season. | |||
| Source: AustralianFootball.com | |||
Kate Darby (born 18 November 1990) is an Australian rules footballer who played for the Carlton Football Club in the AFL Women's competition (AFLW). She was drafted by Carlton with the club's sixteenth selection and the one hundred and twenty sixth overall in the 2016 AFL Women's draft.[1] She made her debut in round 2, 2017, in a match against Greater Western Sydney at Ikon Park. She was dropped from the team the following week however and would not return until the final match of the season in round 7.[2][3] She was subsequently delisted at season's end.[4]
In May 2018 Darby accepted an offer from expansion club Geelong to play with the club in the 2019 AFLW season.[citation needed] In June 2021, she was delisted by Geelong.[5]
In December 2021, Darby returned to the Geelong AFLW squad as a replacement player for Renee Garing.[6] Darby was awarded the Hoops Award at the 2022 Geelong AFLW awards. The Hoops Award is awarded to the player making the best values based contribution to the club, and voted on by players, AFLW staff and coaches.[7][8]
- ^ Black, Sarah (12 October 2016). "As it happened: 2016 AFL Women's Draft". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
- ^ Higgins, Ben (16 February 2017). "AFL Womens Round 3 teams: Katie Brennan out for Western Bulldogs, GWS regain Emma Swanson". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
- ^ "Kate Darby". Australian Football. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
- ^ Guldon, Jacqueline (1 June 2017). "AFLW trade wrap". Carlton Medi. Telstra Media. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- ^ "AFLW: Cats Make Three Changes to List". Geelong. Telstra. 9 June 2021.
- ^ King, Tom. "AFLW LIFELINE FOR DARBY". Krock Football. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ King, Tom. "MCDONALD MAKES HISTORY". Krock Football. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
Kate Darby, who was thrown an AFL lifeline when Renee Garing fell pregnant claimed the Hoops Award
- ^ Daniel, Troy (10 April 2022). "McDonald Wins AFLW Best and Fairest". Geelong Football Club. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
Other award winners on the night were Kate Darby and Georgie Rankin, winners of the Hoops Award and Carter Family Community Champion Award respectively. The Hoops Award is awarded to the player making the best values based contribution to the club, and voted on by players, AFLW staff and coaches. Darby returned to the group in 2022 as a train-on partner, making the most of her opportunity as a replacement player for Renee Garing.