Richmond's longest-serving women’s player and inaugural AFLW Tiger Kate Dempsey has called time on her AFLW career, telling teammates that she has retired from the game effective immediately.
Dempsey played 66 AFLW games for the Tigers after being elevated from the Club’s VFLW program in 2019.
She initially joined the Club for training in late 2017 and was announced as a VFLW player in April 2018. She played 28 games for the VFLW Tigers before earning the call-up to the elite level.
Dempsey made her AFLW debut in Round 5 2020 in Wagga Wagga, which was the only match she played in her first season due to injury and the early abandonment of the season.
The 31-year-old then did not miss a game for three seasons and was third in the Best and Fairest in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024.
Dempsey had a career-best season in 2023, averaging 20 disposals and 349 metres gained per match to be one of the competition's most prolific wingers.
She played her 50th AFLW game in 2024 and featured in all three AFLW finals matches Richmond has played to date. Dempsey was a crucial part of the Club’s top four finish in Season 7.
Dempsey said that she never would have thought during her come and try day she attended in 2017, that she would be in the position she is now in, nine years later.
“This playing group means the world to me and is the reason I have had this career for so long,” she added.
"To my babies Summer and Pip, and my wife Ellie. It has meant the world to me through the back end of my career to be able to experience this with you all.
“I have tried to get through as much as I can this year, and it has not been about selection. But my heart has not really been in it.
“It was time to put my family first and that is why this decision has had to come mid-way through a season.
“My body and my mind have given me all the information to know this is the right decision.
“I am really grateful for the opportunities I have been given here all the way through.”
Richmond CEO Shane Dunne congratulated Dempsey on her outstanding AFLW career, adding the Club was grateful for her contribution across nine years.
“Kate has been a huge part of building our women’s program, starting back in 2018 as a VFLW player balancing full-time work and training under lights at Punt Road Oval," Dunne said.
“She thoroughly deserved the opportunity to be one of the players elevated to our AFLW list for our inaugural season and was quick to show that she belonged at the elite level, before continuing on to be a reliable and consistent AFLW player across many years.
“On behalf of everyone at Richmond, we thank Kate for her hard work and dedication during her time at the Club and wish her and her wife Ellie, and daughters Pippa and Summer all the very best for the future.
“Kate and her family will always be welcome at Richmond.”
