THE CARLTON Football Club is excited to announce captain Kerryn Harrington has put pen to paper on a contract extension, keeping her in the Navy Blue until at least the end of the 2022/2023 season.
The childhood Bluebagger has added one year to her existing deal, as she follows 15 of her fellow Game Changers who have already recommitted over the past fortnight.
Since first arriving at the Club as a rookie, swapping a basketball for a football ahead of the 2018 AFLW season, Harrington has gone from strength to strength in the Navy Blue.
She earned joint captaincy duties ahead of 2020 after just two seasons at the Club and has made her mark as one of the competition’s best leaders and defenders, achieving All-Australian selection in 2019 and 2020, while also finishing third in the Club’s best-and-fairest count in both 2019 and 2021.
Off the back of another dominant season, which saw the 29-year-old record a career-high for disposals (132) and lead the way at the Club for intercepts (65) and rebounds (32) in the Game Changers’ back half, Harrington said she was thrilled to sign on and continue her career at Carlton.
“The Carlton Football Club has been my second home since 2017,” Harrington said.
“I’ve absolutely loved every minute of my journey at IKON Park and while I was already contracted for next season, I’m incredibly excited to be able to extend my time here for at least another year on top of that, especially with other girls re-signing or extending earlier this month.
“We have such a special bunch of girls at the Club and coaching staff who are committed to seeing us succeed, so it truly is an honour to pull on the Navy Blue.
“While we didn’t have the 2021 season that we had hoped for, we are all eager to make the Carlton faithful proud when we return at the end of this year, and I can’t wait to get back out there.”
Carlton General Manager of Women’s Football Brett Munro said extending the skipper’s deal was a high priority for the Club.
“Kerryn is such a key figure at our football club, and an integral leader of our playing group, so we’re extremely pleased to extend her existing contract for an additional year,” Munro said.
“She is the ultimate professional on and off the field and leads by example with her rational decision making and competitive nature, as well as the approach she takes to ensuring she is in the best possible condition each week.
“Not only is Kerryn a team player and a terrific leader, she epitomises The Carlton Way by using her experience and investing her time to grow and develop her teammates – who love playing behind her.
“We are proud to have her lead our group and we’re excited for what’s ahead for Kerryn and our football club.”
