The Cats will be hoping for third time lucky as they take their footy under lights back home at GHMBA Stadium against the Western Bulldogs.

There have been increasingly promising signs over the opening two weeks of the season, and with the lessons learned against two very strong opponents, they’ll be looking to step it up again against the Dogs as they chase their first win for 2021.

The Details
Geelong v Western Bulldogs
Friday, 12 February at 7.10pm AEDT
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong

Tickets: Get them through Ticketmaster from Thursday – from 12pm for members and 1pm for general public.

Last Time They Met

You have to go all the way back to Round 2, 2019 for the last time the Cats and Dogs faced off on the AFLW stage.

The Dogs, who were reigning premiers, defeated a young Cats side at Whitten Oval that night by 18 goals.

After an even start, the Dogs piled on three goals to none in the second term, which proved the difference. The Cats were able to maintain pace with the Dogs in the second half, but could not close the gap.

Defender Meghan McDonald, on her way to an All-Australian season, was a standout with 21 disposals and four marks.

Cats to Keep Your Eye On

Becky Webster has had a strong start to 2021 and was among the Cats’ best against Collingwood. The 20-year-old picked up 18 disposals against the Pies and was a strong force around the contest, never shying away from contact or afraid to bulldoze her way through a pack.

Julia Crockett-Grills brought the pressure against the Pies, laying a game-high six tackles and collecting 15 disposals as she did her best to influence the contest.

The Key Points

1) Finding opportunities: Despite a lopsided scoreboard against the Kangaroos in Round 1, the Cats lost the inside 50 count by just two. But converting entries to scoring opportunities has proved difficult, scoring from just 16 per cent of entries in Round 1. Against the Magpies, that figure increased to 27 per cent, but it will need to lift again to match the Dogs, who’ve scored from 36 per cent and 34 per cent of entries respectively in their opening two games.

2) It’s the little things that matter: The Cats’ effort in the first two weeks can’t be doubted. The Cats have averaged 50.5 tackles a game over the opening two rounds, and 31.5 one-percenters. Led by the likes of rising midfielder Webster, the Cats haven’t been afraid of going in hard at a contest to try to win the ball.

3) Milestone match: Friday night’s game will see Maddy Keryk reach the 25-game milestone. A former Carlton player, Keryk was picked up by Geelong in the 2018 draft, ahead of the club’s inaugural season. The defender has played every possible game for the Cats since, and was this year elevated to the Cats’ Player Leadership Group.

How to Watch

If you wish to attend the game, you must pre-purchase a ticket. Tickets are just $10 for adults/concession, while anyone under 18 years of age can enter free (but still must redeem a ticket). Tickets are available through Ticketmaster from 12pm Thursday for members and 1pm for the general public.

In 2021, Geelong Cats AFLW Members get free admission to home games at GMHBA Stadium. Members can redeem their free ticket through Ticketmaster.

If you’re unable to make the game but still want to watch, it will be shown on subscription TV through Fox Footy, can be streamed on Kayo with a subscription, and will also be streamed on womens.afl and the official AFLW App.

Follow the @catswomens on Twitter and Instagram for updates throughout the game.

A strong final quarter saw the Western Bulldogs walk away 15-point victors after a largely close tussle at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night.

Bulldogs captain Ellie Blackburn proved the difference as her side outlasted the Cats to finish 3.6 (24) to 1.3 (9) victors, after just one point had separated the teams at three-quarter time.

In the only NAB AFL Women's match of round three in Victoria to be played in front of fans due to the state's latest lockdown, Blackburn collected 25 disposals and directly set-up the Dogs' first two goals.

Dogs No.2 draft pick Jess Fitzgerald was then left to ice the match, fending off two Cats opponents before finishing off a brilliant solo running effort. 

It conspired Geelong to its third consecutive defeat of the season with the Cats goalless in nine of 12 quarters for the season.

The Dogs, now placed at 2-1, could've been further in front at half-time through the dominance of Blackburn and Kirsty Lamb (20 disposals) around the contest. 

The Cats brought a stronger tackling edge after the main break and kicked their sole major through Phoebe McWilliams but were unable to make the most of territory dominance.

It was McWilliams' first major of 2021, and she proved a strong target around the ground, taking six grabs to go with her 11 disposals and three tackles on the night.

Amy McDonald continued her brilliant start to the season, providing tenacity and spark to the Cats around the ground on her way to 25 disposals, eight clearances and six tackles.

Second-gamers Liv Barber and Steph Williams provided plenty of excitement, with Barber taking strong grabs and bringing the pressure, while Williams provided pace and pressure.

Georgie Rankin put in a gutsy performance, while Olivia Purcell was again among the best and Meghan McDonald was strong in defence.

GEELONG                                0.0       0.1       1.2       1.3 (9)
WESTERN BULLDOGS             1.1       1.3       1.3       3.6 (24)

GOALS
Geelong: McWilliams
Western Bulldogs: Huntington, McLeod, Fitzgerald

BEST 
Geelong: McWilliams, A.McDonald, Purcell, O'Connor, M.McDonald
Western Bulldogs: Blackburn, Lamb, Huntington, Lochland, Ferres, Georgostathis

INJURIES 
Geelong: Nil 
Western Bulldogs: Nil 

Reports: Nil

Crowd: 1124 at GMHBA Stadium