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AFLW 2021: West Coast Eagles sign North Adelaide’s Katelyn Pope as injury replacement for Mhicca Carter

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Mitchell WoodcockThe West Australian
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VideoAFLW: There has been a raft of fixture changes, less than a week before the AFLW season is scheduled to get underway.

West Coast have added more South Australian talent to their AFLW list after signing midfielder Katelyn Pope as an injury replacement for the 2021 season.

Pope, 24, comes in to replace Mhicca Carter, who will miss the entire upcoming season with a navicular foot injury.

The North Adelaide-product is a former left-arm seamer for the South Australian Scorpions and Adelaide Strikers, but switched sports to play football where she uses her speed and endurance to star in the midfield for the Roosters in the SANFLW.

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Pope joins fellow North Adelaide products Lauren Gauci and Amber Ward at the Eagles, after they joined in October.

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“I’m itching to get over there,” Pope told the club’s website.

Katelyn Hope is set to bring her speed and skill to West Coast Eagles in 2021.
Camera IconKatelyn Hope is set to bring her speed and skill to West Coast Eagles in 2021. Credit: West Coast Eagles/westcoasteagles.com.au

“I’ve got my last shift at work at the SACA – I work with the junior girls in the under-19s – tonight so I’m expecting a few tears from me and them, but other than that it’s just been an absolute whirlwind.”

Pope will arrive in Perth tomorrow and will train alongside her new teammates that evening, where she will no doubt be handed her number 29 guernsey, which is also her birthdate.

In what could be a bit of good luck for the Eagles, Pope has never tasted defeat when playing alongside Gauci and Ward for the Roosters.

“Me and Lauren always have a running joke that whenever we’ve played together we’ve never lost,” Pope said.

West Coast’s community and game development general manager Richard O’Connell said it was disappointing that Carter would miss the season.

“She has worked so hard but the club will support her through her recovery,” he said.

“By placing Mhicca on the inactive player list, it has created an opportunity for Katelyn, who we think can add some spark to the squad with her outstanding running ability.

“She has shown natural talent and goal sense in the SANFLW, and her experience with the Strikers in the WBBL should hold her in good stead coming into an elite program.

“We are really excited for her to join the squad this week.”

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