Kate McCarthy is believed to be the first player to play AFL with a pacemaker

It was a historic weekend for football last week, but in more ways than one.

When Kate McCarthy took to the field, it is believed she became the first person to play football at the highest level with a pacemaker.

Kate told Neil Mitchell she’s had it since she was 12.

‘I used to get seizures, once every couple of years,’ she said.

‘One day, my heart just couldn’t restart its own rhythm.’

Kate said having the operation so young meant she never thought of the pacemaker as something that could stop her pursuing her goals.

She said her cardiologist has been very supportive of her attempts to play elite sport.

Click play to hear Kate’s story