Kvant notches up 100 games for Joeys

ST JOSEPH’S footballer Katherine Kvant has become just the second player to reach 100 games in the AFL Barwon senior women’s competition, notching up the milestone against Geelong Ammos on the weekend.

Kvant began her football journey when she joined Joeys in 2018 as the senior women competition formed in the region. From there, she has never looked back, winning the Division Two premiership in 2022 and becoming the side’s co-captain in 2023.

Despite the Joeys losing to Ammos in her milestone game, Kvant expressed her gratitude for the support and thoroughly enjoyed the day.

“It was a really special day,” she said.

“I really appreciate everything the club did to celebrate – slightly overwhelmed by the amount of people there and all the celebrations, but I just really enjoyed it.

“Even though we didn’t get the result we would’ve hoped for, I thought it was still a really high-quality game, which I think is really exciting.”

Kvant joins Grovedale’s Lauren French as the only women in the Geelong region to have achieved the 100-game feat – something she took great pride in.

“I kind of knew coming into this season, if I have a good run with no injuries, it was possible,” she said.

“And then just to really get here, it’s something probably that will sink in in the coming weeks more, just because it’s just felt a little bit surreal. I’m really proud of it and I’ve just loved my footy, which is great.”

St Joseph’s is one of the pioneering clubs in female footy across the Geelong region, and Kvant explained how much the club meant to her.

“It’s a really great club to be part of.

“I look back and think how lucky I am to have chosen Joeys as the club to join back at the end of 2017.

“We’ve had so much support. Sue Cormack and Chris Hickey in particular – what they’ve done to drive the female footy program as a whole, we’re really fortunate to have them leading that.”

Aside from Cormack and Hickey, Kvant also credited various others who helped her reach 100 games.

“(There’s) a lot of other people at the club who I don’t want to name because I know I’d miss them!”

“And then my family, they always get around it as well and really support me, as well as my teammates of course.”

“We’re a really great, connected group. It’s so nice to be able to do something outside of work and clear your head and just love what you do on the weekends and at training.”

Kvant’s side finished fifth in 2025, missing out on the finals by one spot. However, their progress across the year already has her keen for 2026.

“The second half of the season in particular, we’re really proud of the development we’ve seen,” she said.

“We’re starting to see a lot of our junior girls coming through the ranks and from an under-18 level, stepping up into the seniors as well.

“We’re really excited about what the future holds for us.”