Rachel Kearns makes shock return to Cats side

The 25 year old has worked very hard with her rehab over the past seven weeks and had impressed Cats Head Coach Dan Lowther last week ahead of their round eight game.

BACK IN: Rachel Kearns of the Cats reacts to an injury during the round one AFLW match between the Geelong Cats and the Richmond Tigers at GMHBA Stadium on August 28, 2022 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

RACHEL Kearns will make a shock return for Geelong in round nine after recovering from a shoulder injury faster than expected.

The Mayo woman picked up an AC joint injury in her right shoulder in their season-opening win over Richmond. In the days after the game, Geelong’s Head AFLW Physiotherapist Erin Nelson said at the time "This will most likely be a season ending injury." Kearns was ruled out for 10-12 weeks in early September.