Kate McCarthy
{{short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Kate McCarthy
| nickname = Cathy Freeman{{cite news|title=Tayla Harris has AFL Women's football kicking on in Brisbane|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/womens-afl/football-is-kicking-on-in-brisbane-20170302-gup70r.html|newspaper=The Age|last=Flanagan|first=Martin|date=3 March 2017|access-date=22 March 2017}}
| image =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|10|24|df=y}}{{cite web|title=Brisbane Lions AFL Women's Players|url=http://www.lions.com.au/afl-womens/afl-womens-players|publisher=Brisbane Lions|access-date=28 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203095550/http://www.lions.com.au/afl-womens/afl-womens-players|archive-date=3 February 2019|url-status=dead}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| originalteam = Yeronga South Brisbane (QWAFL)
| draftpick = No. 82, 2016 AFL Women's draft
| debutdate = Round 1, 2017
| debutteam = {{AFLW|Bri}}
| debutopponent = {{AFLW|Mel}}
| debutstadium = Casey Fields
| weight =
| position = Midfield/small forward{{cite web|last1=de Haer|first1=Katie|title=One change made for Bulldogs clash – lions.com.au|url=http://www.lions.com.au/news/2017-03-09/aflw-team-round-6|website=lions.com.au|publisher=Brisbane Lions|access-date=11 March 2017|date=9 March 2017}}{{cite web|title=Observations from five weeks of AFLW|url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/03/08/observations-from-five-weeks-of-aflw/|website=The Roar|access-date=11 March 2017|date=8 March 2017}}
| currentclub =
| guernsey =
| years1 = 2017–2019
| club1 = {{AFLW|Bri}}
| games_goals1 = 23 (16)
| years2 = 2020–2022 (S6)
| club2 = {{AFLW|StK}}
| games_goals2 = 16 {{0}}(2)
| years3 = 2022 (S7)
| club3 = {{AFLW|Haw}}
| games_goals3 = {{0}}3 {{0}}(0)
| games_goalstotal = 42 (18)
| statsend = 2022 (S7)
| sooyears1 = 2017
| sooteam1 = The Allies
| soogames_goals1 = 1 (0)
| repstatsend = 2017
| careerhighlights = AFLW
- 2017 QWAFL Best & Fairest
}}
Kate McCarthy (born 24 October 1992) is a former Australian rules footballer, media personality and sports commentator who played for the Brisbane Lions, St Kilda Football Club, and Hawthorn Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW).
Early and personal life
McCarthy grew up in Brisbane where she initially pursued a career in cricket and represented Queensland in the process. She later switched to play Australian rules football for Yeronga South Brisbane in the QWAFL before signing for the Brisbane Lions. She has represented Australia for touch rugby league to at least as high as the under-20s age group.{{Cite web|url=http://touchfootball.com.au/index.php?id=13&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=3330&cHash=d4b9569c07|title=Australian Youth And Masters Squads|publisher=Touch Football|date=25 June 2012|access-date=8 March 2017}} As of 2017, she works as a mathematics and physical education teacher at Clairvaux MacKillop College.{{Cite web|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/southeast/clairvaux-mackillop-college-teacher-kate-mccarthy-kicking-goals-with-the-brisbane-lions/news-story/e096053b5450f8f6a24d7557d95b9748|title=Clairvaux Mackillop College teacher Kate McCarthy kicking goals with the Brisbane Lions|publisher=Quest Community Newspapers|last=Cormack|first=Michael|date=28 January 2017|access-date=8 March 2017}} She has required an implanted pacemaker since the age of ten.{{Cite web|url=http://www.3aw.com.au/news/kate-mccarthy-is-believed-to-be-the-first-player-to-play-afl-with-a-pacemaker-20170209-gu9tk5.html|title=Kate McCarthy is believed to be the first player to play AFL with a pacemaker|publisher=3AW|date=10 February 2017|access-date=8 March 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Beaton|first1=Robert|title=Lionhearted McCarthy|url=http://www.aflplayers.com.au/article/lionhearted-mccarthy/|website=AFL Players Association|access-date=8 March 2017|date=1 March 2017}}
AFL Women's career
McCarthy was taken with the number 82 pick by Brisbane in the 2016 AFL Women's draft. She made her debut in the Lions' inaugural game against Melbourne at Casey Fields in the opening round of the 2017 AFL Women's season.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/aflw/aflw-2017-round-one-melbourne-demons-v-brisbane-lions/news-story/44467d8bc1d64c6880b41c91e222f13d|title=AFLW 2017 round one: Melbourne Demons v Brisbane Lions|newspaper=Herald Sun|date=5 February 2017|access-date=3 March 2017}} McCarthy is noted for her speed and ability to kick the ball accurately while sprinting.{{cite web|last1=Cheadle|first1=Josh|title=Pacemaker not slowing down speedy Lion Kate McCarthy – AFL.com.au|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-02-23/pacemaker-not-slowing-down-speedy-lion-kate-mccarthy|website=afl.com.au|publisher=AFL|access-date=20 March 2017|date=23 February 2017}}{{cite news|title=Kate McCarthy delivers brilliant goal as Brisbane Lions beat Collingwood in AFLW|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/womens-afl/kate-mccarthy-delivers-brilliant-goal-as-brisbane-lions-beat-collingwood-in-aflw-20170218-gug2at.html|access-date=20 March 2017|work=The Age|agency=AAP|date=19 February 2017}}{{Twitter|id=843339714937540611|name=AFL Women's}}
At the end of the season, McCarthy was listed in the 2017 All-Australian team.{{cite web|last1=Navaratnam|first1=Dinny|title=Lions, Crows dominate AFLW All Australian team – AFL.com.au|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-03-28/lions-crows-dominate-aflw-all-australian-team|website=AFL.com.au|publisher=BigPond|access-date=28 March 2017|date=28 March 2017}}
Brisbane signed McCarthy for the 2018 season during the trade period in May 2017.{{cite web|title=AFLW: All the clubs' full lists after trade period – AFL.com.au|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-05-26/aflw-all-the-clubs-full-lists-after-trade-period|website=afl.com.au|publisher=Telstra Media|access-date=26 May 2017|date=26 May 2017}}
In April 2019, McCarthy joined expansion club St Kilda, along with fellow Brisbane player Nat Exon.{{cite web |title=2020 vision for McCarthy and Exon |url=https://www.saints.com.au/news/2019-04-17/2020-vision-for-mccarthy-and-exon |access-date=17 April 2019 |work={{AFL StK}} |publisher=Telstra Media |date=17 April 2019}}
In May 2022, McCarthy was delisted by St Kilda to allow her to explore her options.{{cite web|url=https://www.saints.com.au/news/1135993/saints-confirm-further-list-changes|title=Saints confirm further list changes|publisher=Telstra Media|work=St Kilda|date=27 May 2022}} Following her delisting, she was signed by expansion club Hawthorn as a delisted free agent.{{cite web|url=https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/1145594/mccarthy-makes-way-to-hawthorn-for-season-seven|title=McCarthy makes way to Hawthorn for Season Seven|publisher=Telstra|work=Hawthorn|date=9 June 2022}} At the conclusion of the season, on January 12th 2023 McCarthy retired from the sport after 7 seasons at the highest level.
Statistics
{{Australian rules football statistics legend}}
{{AFLW player statistics start}}
|-
| 2017 || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 9
| 8 || 9 || 1 || 38 || 11 || 49 || 9 || 21 || 1.1 || 0.1 || 4.8 || 1.4 || 6.1 || 1.1 || 2.6 || 0
|-
| 2018 || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 9
| 8 || 1 || 2 || 37 || 9 || 46 || 14 || 13 || 0.1 || 0.3 || 4.6 || 1.1 || 5.8 || 1.8 || 1.6 || 0
|-
| 2019 || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 9
| 7 || 6 || 4 || 32 || 8 || 40 || 7 || 20 || 0.9 || 0.6 || 4.6 || 1.1 || 5.7 || 1.0 || 2.9 || 0
|-
| 2020 || {{AFLW|StK}} || 9
| 4 || 1 || 0 || 26 || 10 || 36 || 6 || 8 || 0.3 || 0.0 || 6.5 || 2.5 || 9.0 || 1.5 || 2.0 || 0
|-
| 2021 || {{AFLW|StK}} || 9
| 6 || 1 || 2 || 26 || 8 || 34 || 7 || 3 || 0.2 || 0.3 || 4.3 || 1.3 || 5.7 || 1.2 || 0.5 || 0
|-
| 2022 (S6) || {{AFLW|StK}} || 9
| 6 || 0 || 2 || 37 || 5 || 42 || 5 || 5 || 0.0 || 0.3 || 6.2 || 0.8 || 7.0 || 0.8 || 0.8 || 0
|-
| 2022 (S7) || {{AFLW|Haw}} || 9
| 3 || 0 || 0 || 11 || 2 || 13 || 6 || 6 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 3.7 || 0.7 || 4.3 || 2.0 || 2.0 || 0
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3| Career
! 42 !! 18 !! 11 !! 207 !! 53 !! 260 !! 54 !! 76 !! 0.4 !! 0.3 !! 4.9 !! 1.3 !! 6.2 !! 1.3 !! 1.8 !! 0
|}
Honours and achievements
Media Career
McCarthy joined Seven Network as a media personality supporting shows including Armchair Experts for the 2024 AFL season alongside Kane Cornes and the 2024 AFL Grand Final broadcast alongside Jude Bolton.[https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/1498416/mccarthy-to-depart-dogs-for-new-role McCarthy to depart Dogs for new role] 1 March 2024[https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/channel-7-commentator-kate-mccarthy-hospitalised-after-heart-issue/news-story/9cc4e97365030ff6097b37f5d46770a2 Channel 7 commentator Kate McCarthy hospitalised over heart issue] by Andrew McMurtry for News.com.au 1 October 2024
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Hawplayer}}
- {{AustralianFootball}}
{{2017 AFL Women's All-Australian team}}
{{Brisbane Lions leading goalkickers}}
{{Inaugural Brisbane Lions AFL Women's team}}
{{Inaugural St Kilda AFL Women's team}}
{{2016 AFL Women's draft}}
{{2017 The Allies women's State of Origin players}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCarthy, Kate}}
Category:Australian rules footballers from Brisbane
Category:Sportswomen from Queensland
Category:Brisbane Lions (AFLW) players
Category:All-Australians (AFL Women's)