Kearney was raised on a sheep station in the rural western Victorian town of Cavendish. She played football through her early years, but was forced to give up the sport at the age of twelve, when she was barred from playing with the youth boys team. She attended high school at Monivae College in Hamilton.
Australian rules football
State league and representative football
Kearney returned to football while studying a physical education teaching degree at university in Ballarat. She began playing state-league football in 2010, when she joined Melbourne University in the Victorian Women's Football League. She won the club best and fairest award in 2012 and 2013. In 2016, she was a member of the club's grand final side that ultimately lost to the Darebin Falcons. In 2013, she was selected to play in, and was a member of the winning Victorian side at the AFL Women's National Championships in Cairns. Kearney was selected by the with the tenth overall pick in the first women's AFL draft in 2013. Kearney then played in the inaugural women's exhibition match in June that year. She would go on to play in exhibition matches for the club through to the end of 2016.
AFL Women's career
Kearney was signed by the as a priority player in August 2016. As part of the newly formed league's rules, her off-field work at the club made her eligible for the special pre-draft signing. Kearney faced a limited pre-season, missing eight training sessions due to cricketing commitments across the 2016-2017 summer. She made her league debut in the club's inaugural match, in round one of the 2017 season against at VU Whitten Oval. She was among the best afield, recording a game-high twenty-three disposals on the night. At the conclusion of round 2, Kearney was ranked first in the competition for disposals, uncontested possessions, inside-50s and metres gained. She was also ranked second in clearances. In Round 6 she recorded 30 disposals, becoming the first player to reach the total in the competition's six week history. After six rounds Kearney remained amongst the most prolific ball-winning midfielders in the competition; ranking second for total disposals and first for both inside-50s and metres gained. At the end of the 2017 season, Kearney was nominated by her teammates for the AFL Players' Most Valuable Player Award and was listed in the All-Australian team. In May 2017 she was announced as the co-winner of the Susan Alberti award, as the equal best and fairest player at the club alongside Ellie Blackburn. The Western Bulldogs signed Kearney for the 2018 season during the trade period in May, 2017. The Western Bulldogs won the premiership by defeating at the 2018 AFL Women's Grand Final, and Kearney was named the 2018 AFL Women's best and fairest on 27 March 2018. On 4 April 2018, Kearney informed the Bulldogs that she had accepted employment as sport and recreation coordinator at The Huddle, 's community organization, and that she would accept a contract to play with during the 2019 AFL Women's season. In November 2018, North Melbourne announced Kearney as inaugural captain of the team.
Cricket
In January 2014, Kearney represented Victoria in the women's under-17 national championships in Geelong. She played five matches for the tournament, taking a single wicket. Kearney later played grade cricket at the Essendon Maribyrnong Park Ladies Cricket Club in Melbourne's inner-north. She was selected for the Victorian Spirit in the 2013/14 season for the first time. There she played first class Twenty-20 and limited overs matches. She has continued to play limited overs cricket with Victoria through to the end of the 2016/17 season. Kearney was signed by the Melbourne Stars ahead of the league's inaugural season in 2016/17. In her first season at the club, she took seven wickets from twelve matches. She was the club's most economic fast bowler and third tidiest overall. Kearney took eight wickets in fourteen matches in 2016/17 and at a club's best economy of 5.27 runs per over.
Dual sports controversy
Kearney garnered media attention in December 2016 on account of her dual-sports status. She revealed that she had been asked by Cricket Australia to sign documents committing her to prioritise cricket training and matches over AFL Women's training sessions held during the cricket season. At the time, Kearney voiced public criticism of the decision by cricket bosses in light of the semi-professional nature of the league.
