Off-season additions Piper Dunlop and Emma Kilaptrick will make their debuts in Geelong’s AFL season opener against North Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Coach Dan Lowether confirmed the pair will take on the Roos as the Cats look for their first win over the reigning premier.
A former Australian under-19 basketball representative, Dunlop joined Geelong’s VFL team in mid-2024 after impressing with Bendigo-based club Sandhurst.
The 186cm Dunlop, who is set to start in the ruck, was a train-on player last AFLW season before being snapped up with pick no.37 in last year’s National Draft.
Kilpatrick arrived at GMHBA Stadium as a replacement signing from SANFLW club West Adelaide.
Despite being just 19 years old, Kilpatrick has already played four seasons of open-age football.
She finished runner-up in West Adelaide’s best-and-fairest and represented South Australia at the under-18 National Championships in 2024.
“She’ll play up the ground defence for us,” Lowether said of Kilpatrick.
“She’s had an immediate impact on our group. She came here quite late, actually, as a replacement player.
“Her impact’s been really, really positive.
(Piper) had two really good games in the practice series, (and) had a great year last year in the VFLW.
“And I think it’s no secret we’re crying for a tall player playing the ruck, and she’s filled that position really well.”
Lowther also revealed second-year player Bryde O’Rourke will make her second appearance.
The father-daughter selection’s first season at Geelong was cut short by a collarbone injury suffered on debut against Fremantle.
“She’s trained the lights out all pre-season, so she’s deserved her crack at playing as well,” Lowther said.
However, highly-rated draftee Lexi Gregor will have to wait another week to make her debut.
Geelong was unable to consider forward duo Chloe Scheer (knee) and Shelley Scott (calf), draftee Sienna Tallariti (ankle), and volleyball convert Caitie Tipping (knee).
That quartet is unlikely to be seen in the first month of the season.
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