Kalinda Howarth

Howarth was born on the Gold Coast{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/afl/gold-coast-suns-trainee-kalinda-howarth-eyes-aflw-spot-with-brisbane-lions/news-story/2491baf5040e69c8ade32f9247dca627|title=Gold Coast Suns trainee Kalinda Howarth eyes AFLW spot with Brisbane Lions|publisher=Gold Coast Bulletin|date=28 September 2017|access-date=8 February 2020}} into a family of Indigenous Australian (Yuin) descent{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/560728/aflw-round-1-holding-special-significance-for-indigenous-suns|title=AFLW Round 1 holding special significance for Indigenous SUNS|publisher=goldcoastfc.com.au|date=6 February 2020|access-date=6 February 2020}} and attended Helensvale State High School throughout her upbringing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aflq.com.au/18156-2/|title=Youth Girls Squad Named|publisher=aflsportsready.com.au|date=23 March 2016|access-date=20 January 2020}} She grew up a passionate rugby league supporter and played touch rugby, soccer and basketball throughout her childhood.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/womens-afl/how-aflw-livewire-kalinda-howarth-cracked-lions-officials/news-story/97437fddb1d1042b3b79e9256e71c992|title=How AFLW livewire Kalinda Howarth cracked Lions officials|publisher=Fox Sports Australia|date=13 October 2017|access-date=20 January 2020}} At the age of 12, her brother convinced her to try Australian rules football with the Southport Sharks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/539054/aflw-feature-howarth-opens-up-on-mental-health-battles|title=Kalinda Howarth opens up on mental health battles|publisher=goldcoastfc.com.au|date=5 December 2019|access-date=28 January 2020}} She later switched clubs to play for Labrador and eventually Coolangatta Tweed in the top level Queensland competition in the lead up to her draft year. At the age of 17, Howarth kicked the premiership-winning goal for Coolangatta Tweed in the 2016 QAFLW grand final.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-02/afl-calls-top-young-male-female-players-to-melbourne/9007794?section=sport|title=AFL calls top young male and female players to Melbourne for shot at the big time|publisher=ABC Australia|date=2 October 2019|access-date=11 January 2020}} Howarth signed with the Gold Coast Suns Academy. She was also named on the half forward line in the 2017 Under 18 All-Australian team following her strong performance at the national championships.{{Cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/113710/aflw-vic-country-dominates-u18-all-australian-side|title=AFLW: Vic Country dominates U18 All Australian side|publisher=AFL.com.au|date=4 September 2017|access-date=5 August 2020}}

Howarth named Lance Franklin as her football idol growing up and wears the number 23 guernsey in recognition of her desire to play like him.{{Cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/58760/aflw-buddylike-arc-to-queensland-guns-game|title=Buddy-like arc to Queensland gun's game|publisher=AFL.com.au|date=13 October 2017|access-date=13 March 2020}}

Howarth was selected by {{AFLW|Bri}} with the 31st pick in the 2017 AFL Women's draft but was delisted a year later without making her AFLW debut. She then joined Bond University and impressed with 31 goals in 15 games to win the QAFLW leading goal kicker award for 2019{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/players/1874/kalinda-howarth|title=Kalinda Howarth Profile - Gold Coast Suns|publisher=goldcoastfc.com.au|date=1 January 2020|access-date=4 February 2020}} and finish in second place in the league best and fairest voting.{{Cite web|url=https://womens.afl/news/46379/-i-was-in-and-out-of-the-mental-health-ward-rising-sun-s-battle|title='I was in and out of the mental health ward': Rising Sun's battle|publisher=womens.afl|date=27 February 2020|access-date=29 February 2020}} Her performance led to draft pre-selection by {{AFLW|GC}}, her hometown club, to be a part of its inaugural AFLW list.{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/79365/kalinda-howarth-becomes-a-sun|title=Kalinda Howarth becomes a SUN|publisher=goldcoastfc.com.au|date=28 August 2019|access-date=1 February 2020}}

She made her AFL Women's debut against {{AFLW|GWS}} in round 1 of the 2020 AFL Women's season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/560876/aflw-team-announcement-round-1|title=Gold Coast Suns AFLW Team Announcement: Round 1|publisher=goldcoastfc.com.au|date=6 February 2020|access-date=6 February 2020}} In the inaugural women's QClash between intrastate rivals Gold Coast and Brisbane, Howarth kicked three of the Suns' four goals against her former side and drew comparisons to {{AFL Gee}} forward Steve Johnson following her performance.{{Cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/suns-coach-likens-aflw-star-to-cats-legend-c-711266|title=Suns coach likens AFLW star to Cats legend|publisher=7news.com.au|date=22 February 2020|access-date=22 February 2020}} She was also named the AFLW's Round 3 AFL Women's Rising Star nominee for her efforts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/568202/kalinda-howarth-named-nab-aflw-round-3-rising-star-nominee|title=Kalinda Howarth named NAB AFLW Round 3 Rising Star nominee|publisher=goldcoastfc.com.au|date=25 February 2020|access-date=29 February 2020}} Three weeks later, Howarth kicked a career-high four goals and was voted best on ground in her team's 25-point win over {{AFL WC}},{{Cite web|url=https://womens.afl/news/49042/rising-sun-shines-brightest-in-impressive-win-over-eagles|title=Rising Sun shines brightest in impressive win over Eagles|publisher=womens.afl|date=15 March 2020|access-date=27 March 2020}} which ultimately secured a place in the finals for the Suns.{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/578198/suns-maiden-finals-berth-confirmed|title=SUNS maiden finals berth confirmed|publisher=goldcoastfc.com.au|date=18 March 2020|access-date=27 March 2020}} She was named in the 2020 AFLW All-Australian team for her season performance.{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/587518/kalinda-howarth-named-all-australian|title=Kalinda Howarth named All Australian|publisher=goldcoastfc.com.au|date=27 April 2020|access-date=29 April 2020}}

During the trade period ahead of the 2024 season, Howarth was traded to {{AFLW|Col}} as part of a three-club deal also involving Brisbane, with Collingwood parting with a third-round pick and a fourth-round pick of that year's draft as part of the trade.{{cite news|title=Howarth to don black-and-white|url=https://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/1477195/howarth-to-don-black-and-white|publisher=Collingwood Football Club|date=13 December 2023|access-date=13 December 2023}}

Updated to the end of the 2023 season.{{cite web|title=Kalinda Howarth – player stats by season|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player_season_detail/Kalinda+Howarth/20923|work=Australian Football|access-date=12 November 2024}}

{{Australian rules football statistics legend}}

{{AFLW player statistics start}}

|-

| 2018 || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 19

| 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|-

| 2020 || {{AFLW|GC}} || 23

| 7 || 9 || 2 || 54 || 17 || 71 || 10 || 16 || 1.3 || 0.3 || 7.7 || 2.4 || 10.1 || 1.4 || 2.3 || 4

|-

| 2021 || {{AFLW|GC}} || 23

| 9 || 3 || 3 || 82 || 23 || 105 || 23 || 10 || 0.3 || 0.3 || 9.1 || 2.6 || 11.7 || 2.6 || 1.1 || 3

|-

| 2022 (S6) || {{AFLW|GC}} || 23

| 9 || 2 || 3 || 74 || 23 || 97 || 25 || 17 || 0.2 || 0.3 || 8.2 || 2.6 || 10.8 || 2.8 || 1.9 || 0

|-

| 2022 (S7) || {{AFLW|GC}} || 23

| 9 || 6 || 7 || 79 || 21 || 100 || 23 || 18 || 0.7 || 0.8 || 8.8 || 2.3 || 11.1 || 2.6 || 2.0 || 5

|-

| 2023 || {{AFLW|GC}} || 23

| 1 || 0 || 0 || 10 || 5 || 15 || 5 || 1 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 10.0 || 5.0 || 15.0 || 5.0 || 1.0 || 0

|-

| 2024 || {{AFLW|Col}} || 35

| 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|- class=sortbottom

! colspan=3 | Career

! 35 !! 20 !! 15 !! 299 !! 89 !! 388 !! 86 !! 62 !! 0.6 !! 0.4 !! 8.5 !! 2.5 !! 11.1 !! 2.5 !! 1.8 !! 12

|}

• AFL Women's All-Australian team: 2020
• 2× Gold Coast leading goalkicker: 2020, 2021
• AFL Women's Rising Star nominee: 2020
• AFL Women's 22under22 team: 2020

{{reflist}}

• {{Collplayer}}
• {{AustralianFootball}}
• {{Instagram|id=kalindahowarth}}

{{Collingwood AFL Women's player squad}}

{{2020 AFL Women's All-Australian team}}

{{Gold Coast leading goalkickers}}

{{Inaugural Gold Coast AFL Women's team}}

{{2020 AFL Women's Rising Star nominees}}

{{2017 AFL Women's draft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Howarth, Kalinda}}

Category:1999 births

Category:Living people

Category:Australian rules footballers from the Gold Coast, Queensland

Category:Sportswomen from Queensland

Category:Indigenous Australian players of Australian rules football

Category:21st-century Indigenous Australian people

Category:Gold Coast Football Club (AFLW) players

Category:21st-century Australian sportswomen