Caitie Tipping

Caitie’s story

Before she was a ruck for Geelong, Caitie Tipping was a soccer goalkeeper. Volleyball took her to the University of South Alabama on a scholarship and to Sweden, where she played professionally for Linköping. She went on to represent Australia on the international stage. Then she chose to become a beginner again in a completely different sport.

A handful of football sessions drew interest from several AFLW clubs. They saw how her timing, reach and athleticism could translate to the ruck, and how quickly she was picking up a game she’d barely played. Caitie chose Geelong and signed as an Other Sport Rookie ahead of the 2025 season.

In her first VFLW match, Caitie injured her knee. She spent months working her way back while learning a new sport and waiting for her chance at AFLW level. When she finally debuted against Carlton in Round 8, she played all five of Geelong’s remaining games and led the club for average hit-outs. Another knee injury in 2026 sent her back to rehab. By then she knew how different it can feel to get back on the training track and to trust yourself again once you’re there.

What Caitie brings as a mentor

Caitie can help young athletes work through the frustration of being sidelined and the uncertainty of coming back. She understands how hard it is to watch teammates train and compete while your own progress feels slow, and how easy it is to measure every session against what you could do before the injury.

She helps athletes put a plan around what they can control. That could mean setting one or two goals for the week, keeping track of small wins, staying connected with their team while they’re out, or preparing for the moments they’re nervous about when they return. She can also help athletes who are changing sports, stepping up a level or learning a new position recognise the strengths they already bring and decide what to work on next.