Rachel Kearns has signed for AFLW club Geelong, becoming the 14th Irish player in the league for the 2022 season.

The Galway striker and Mayo ladies footballer has signed a one-year contract with the Cats.

Kearns joins as an international rookie and the club say the 23-year-old is "well suited to the physicality" of Australian Rules.

Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

"Rachel is an experienced athlete, her list of achievements speak for themselves," the Cats announced in a statement.

"She is well suited to the physicality of AFLW and we see her making a strong contribution."

An All-Star in 2019, the Crossmolina native has played in defence, midfield and at full-forward since breaking onto the Mayo senior team six years ago.

Kearns was named the SSE Airtricity Women's National League Player of the Month for April after scoring a hat-trick for Galway against Cork City.

The 24-year-old was capped by the Republic of Ireland up to under-19 level.