A Cat brought this Irish move to the AFLW. It’s made the AFL consider a rule change

Rachel Kearns didn’t have time to think.

Scooping up the Sherrin on the wing, the Geelong dasher sprinted through the middle of GMHBA Stadium, weaving between Bulldogs defenders in the final quarter of the round-12 clash.

Then, Kearns showcased a pair of solos – a Gaelic football manoeuvre where a player delivers a swift short kick to themselves while running – in lieu of the typical AFL bounce.

The move was later deemed illegal by the AFL, but it didn’t stop Kearns’ flashy moves from lighting up social media, with more than half a million views across X and Instagram and lauded by commentators.

“It’s literally everywhere, which is crazy,” Kearns told this masthead. ” I don’t love the attention, but if it brings viewers to the game, that’s definitely a plus.

“I was going at a really high speed, so I couldn’t attempt to bounce, so I was like ‘oh I’ll solo it’.… because I knew I wouldn’t have to break stride.

“ I wasn’t sure if it counted, but then I found out over the weekend that it doesn’t count as a bounce. I found that out probably 100 times,” she added with a laugh.

After the Geelong game, the AFL issued a statement reminding clubs that the “solo” does not constitute a bounce and conceded the move should have been paid as a free kick against Kearns for running too far.

However, the rule could be changing.

At the AFLW finals launch on Wednesday, boss Laura Kane confirmed the league would consider permitting the rule.

“We were in a group chat (with the umpiring department) where I was getting the technical answer to say that it’s not a part of the rules of our game, and I said, ‘well, could it be?’,” Kane said.

“I think we should look at it. It’s not allowed (as a bounce substitute) right now, and it’s not allowed for the next four weeks ... but there’s more than 45 Irish players that contribute to our game right now.

“We’ll have a look at it.”

This year AFLW launched under the slogan “Our game, our rules”, a hint that the league wanted to celebrate and promote the differences between its men’s and women’s competitions.

A W-only rule permitting the solo would provides another point of difference to celebrate the individuality of the women’s game.

“I’d love to see it [the solo] be legal,” Kearns said. “Any of the Irish girls could do that on the run no worries at all and not break stride, so we’d love it.

“Then obviously it’s not our game. I know people probably would say it’s an Aussie game, not an Irish game ... but if it was left in, we’d absolutely accept it. Definitely, all the Irish girls will agree on that for sure.”

North Melbourne superstar Jasmine Garner was also open to the potential rule change.

“I actually like it,” she told media at the AFLW launch.

“I think she [Kearns] did run too far, but if it’s in the rules and you could do that, I think it’d be great for the game.“Why not, change the rules. It’s exciting to watch.”

Blues defender Harriet Cordner, a member of this year’s All-Australian squad, said she loved watching the solo, but wasn’t overly keen to see the rule change.

“A few of our Irish girls showed me it because I didn’t see it live, and I thought ‘how cool is that’,” she told this masthead.

“But I don’t know if it’s something we change in our game, to be honest. I think the bounce is really cool and that rule works really well.”

The AFLW finals kick off on Saturday with a double-header qualifying final at Ikon park, with Geelong against Melbourne before reigning premiers North Melbourne play Carlton.

The 1.05pm match pits Geelong coach Mick Stinear against the Demons, who he coached for 10 seasons.

The Cats (11-1) are the highest-scoring regular-season AFLW team of all time, and only finished second behind North Melbourne on percentage.

Fan favourite Georgie Prespakis has taken Geelong to new heights, as she eyes off a potential league best-and-fairest medal and a maiden grand final appearance.

What does Kearns attribute Geelong rise in form too?

“We’re definitely having more fun,” she said. The group like every week, I swear we just get closer and closer. [Our] connection is building, and it’s just a great place to be around. So we want to keep it going for as long as we can.”

Kearns is grateful to be sharing that experience with Irish teammates Kate Kenny, Emma Murray and Aishling Moloney.

She describes Moloney as her “No.1 supporter” and someone who has helped her greatly with “mindset stuff”.

The duo met playing Gaelic football, Kearns for County Mayo and Moloney for County Tipperary.

“If anyone asks me how anyone has helped me in my career… I always refer to her [Moloney], she’s been just unbelievable,” she said.

Playing alongside her Irish teammates also gives Kearns “a little piece of home” whenever she’s feeling low.

“In Australia, sometimes you just want to see your parents or give your mum a hug,” she said.

“Having the three girls, Irish girls, [here means] you can express what you’re feeling, and majority of the time, they’re also feeling the same.

“So it’s good to just sit around and actually just talk about it ... that sense of someone being there is massive.”

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