Inaugural Geelong Cats AFLW player Erin Hoare has announced her retirement from the AFLW, effective immediately.

Hoare, who has a young family and was balancing her careers in the AFLW and mental health research, said she made the difficult decision to step away from her playing commitments to allow her to spend more time with her family

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A former elite netballer, Hoare made the cross to football in 2017 to be part of the Cats’ first VFLW squad, catching the eye of Melbourne recruiters, and earning a spot with the Demons for the 2018 AFLW season.

Hoare returned to GMHBA Stadium in 2019 for the Cats’ inaugural AFLW season, before taking a break from football at the end of that year to pursue an exciting opportunity to continue her studies at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, completing a post-doctorate fellowship.

After welcoming her children Edith and Conor into the world throughout this period, Hoare made a return to the AFLW in 2023, selected by the Cats with Pick 1 in the 2023 Supplementary Draft.

The 35-year-old played 12 of a possible 13 games in 2023 and was a key member of Geelong’s push to the Preliminary Finals last year.

“Thank you to my teammates, the AFLW program and the entire Geelong Cats football club for their unwavering support of me and my family, to enable me to return to football,” Hoare said.

“Playing football for Geelong with these incredible athletes and people will be one of the greatest privileges I’ll ever know.

“Thank you most of all to Chris, Edith and Conor, whom I’m now looking forward to attending games with and continuing to love and support our great game.”

Geelong Cats Assistant General Manager of Football Brett Johnson thanked Hoare for her contribution to the Club.

“Erin has been an incredible person to have around our Club, both in the early years and since rejoining last year,” Johnson said.

“Her professionalism and competitiveness have been brilliant traits to see in matches and on the training track, and her care for our playing group and the elite experience she brought have been invaluable assets for our AFLW program.

“It was an incredible effort to come back and make such an impact after four seasons out of the system.

“We fully understand and support Erin’s decision to call time on her AFLW career, and wish Erin, Chris, Edie and Conor all the very best on their next chapter. Their family will always be welcomed and valued members of the broader Geelong Cats family.”