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Kate Sheahan happy to make dad Mike proud despite knee injury in AFLW debut for Collingwood

Daniel Cherny

It was all over in less than a minute, but Kate Sheahan says "all that matters" is that she made her famous father proud. 

Sheahan, 35, was playing her first AFLW game for Collingwood when she seriously injured her knee as she attempted to evade Western Bulldog Angelica Gogos.

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The daughter of legendary former Age and Herald Sun journalist Mike started Saturday night's game on the bench, but was unleashed shortly before half-time. The forward had been on the ground for around 45 seconds when she received a handball for her first possession, but her dream was soured almost instantly.

The Pies confirmed on Sunday that Sheahan wouldn't have scans until Monday, and wouldn't speculate on the seriousness of the injury, although the incident was typical of an ACL tear, which would likely rule Sheahan out for around 12 months.

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Depending on the severity of the injury, it could mean the end of Sheahan's AFLW playing career.

Carried off by club medicos, an anguished Sheahan would not return to the field during the game, but was seen smiling post-match despite being on crutches. Flanked by friend and tennis star Daria Gavrilova, Sheahan was in the circle as the previously winless Pies sang their club song for the first time after breaking through with a seven-point victory.

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And she remained upbeat on Sunday morning, taking to Twitter to post a photo taken pre-game of her and her father in the rooms on Saturday night, with Kate holding a club certificate marking her debut.

"This was our dream Dad and we did it," Kate said.

"It's didn't finish perfectly, but I made you proud and that's all that matters."

Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman said post-match on Saturday night that he was hopeful Sheahan wouldn't require a knee reconstruction. "Fingers crossed it's not the worst case for Kate," Siekman said.

He also spoke of Sheahan's excitement after being told on the team bus that she would be a late replacement for Christina Bernadi. "When it was announced she was playing on the bus, she was in tears," he said.

Sheahan was a late inclusion for the Magpies' clash with the Western Bulldogs at the Whitten Oval on Saturday night, having missed the first three rounds of the inaugural season due to a finger injury.

"The whole group of players got around her and nearly jumped on her because they were so excited for her to get the opportunity."


Sheahan is a professional tennis coach and had barely played any football since her junior days before AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan contacted her, asking if she was interested in joining the new competition.

Meanwhile, though his side is already out of the premiership race, Siekman was understandably relieved to have posted his first win at the helm. He was optimistic about his side's prospects for the remainder of the season, beginning with next Saturday's clash against Fremantle in Mandurah. "Our team is building towards something special – we all worked towards one goal to win tonight, and we'll hope to do the same next week when we take on Freo."

Under-fire marquee forward Moana Hope responded to a week of scrutiny with one goal and four disposals. Hope told Channel Seven post-match that it "felt like Christmas" to finally taste victory.

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