Footy star reveals the incredible juggling act that’s the key to her returning to training just three months after giving birth

Brisbane Lions star Kate Lutkins has revealed how she juggles motherhood and being a professional athlete – and how she’s managed to return to training just three months after her daughter came into the world.

A three-time All Australian and the 2021 AFLW grand final Best on Ground winner, Lutkins missed most of the 2022 season with an ACL injury before falling pregnant last year.

Lutkins, 35, says being a parent and being an athlete both complement each other.

‘They both work really well together, and they both bounce off each other – and they make you better at the other one as well,’ she told Seven News. 

‘The daycare is only 10 minutes up the road from BHA stadium, so I pop back up and feed her, go back down to the stadium and do a running sesh, recovery or gym and then pop back up to the daycare and feed her again.’

The three-time All Australian (pictured right in a game against GWS) gave birth to daughter Riley just over three months ago

Lutkins also has a job in the Australian Defence Force, but admits she’s had to take a year off after the arrival of daughter Riley.

The star announced news she was expecting her first child with wife Kate in October 2023 via Instagram.

She posted a shot of herself and partner Kate with their dogs, and another image from the Disney movie ‘The Lion King’ with the characters saying ‘it is a girl’.

‘Look … Kate loves to do the cooking for us (thank goodness) but recently I’ve taken up baking…,’ Lutkins wrote.

‘We are grateful to announce baby Clarkson due Oct 23.’

The exciting news was met with well-wishes from across the AFLW world, including the Lions club. 

Lutkins (pictured) says that the roles of athlete and mother complement each other

‘We are all thrilled for Kate and her wife Kate as they begin their journey into parenthood,’ said Breeanna Brock, Lions head of women’s football.

‘We know she won’t be too far away from Brighton Homes Arena and the group, but we’ll certainly miss her on the field.

‘The whole Lions family is thrilled for Lutsy. She is a great servant of the club and we wish her all the best for this very exciting chapter.’