The Cats are back in action on Tuesday night for their third game in 11 days, this time welcoming Fremantle to GMHBA Stadium for a vital clash to kick off Week 6. 

Geelong performed strongly in their last match against Hawthorn registering 16 scoring shots and over 60 points, but were unable to close out the win in a high scoring encounter. 

Sitting in 15th position on the ladder with six games remaining, the Cats will be looking to build some momentum in the back half of the season starting with Tuesday's match against the Dockers. 

Fremantle have made a strong start to the season, recording four wins from their opening five games and will present another strong challenge in Week 6. 

Match Details 

Geelong Cats v Fremantle
7.15pm AEST, Tuesday October 1
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong

Last Time We Met

Geelong’s most recent clash with Fremantle came in round seven last year, the Cats putting in a strong defensive performance to come away with a 24-point win at GMHBA Stadium.

Holding the Dockers scoreless in the opening term, Geelong took an early lead and never looked back as they recorded 17 scoring shots en route to a comprehensive victory.

Meg McDonald led the way down back collecting a game high 10 intercept possessions, while Darcy Moloney was strong through the middle finishing with 19 disposals and eight score involvements.

Player to Watch

Georgie Prespakis was strong on her return from injury against Hawthorn, leading the Cats in disposals (21), clearances (four) and meters gained (434) on Thursday night.

The Geelong star also registered six score involvements and a team high five inside 50 entries, looking back to her best after missing the previous two weeks.

With Amy McDonald ruled out for at least three weeks after sustaining a hamstring injury, Prespakis will need to be a big factor for Geelong through the midfield.  

Team Selection

In: Bryde O’Rourke (Debut), Caitlin Thorne, Melissa Bragg

Out: Amy McDonald (hamstring), Kate Surman (concussion), Georgie Rankin (Omitted)

Health Update

Click here to see the full Week 6 Deakin AFLW Health Update. 

Broadcast  

The match will be broadcast on Fox Footy this weekend and streamed through Kayo from 7.00pm, ahead of the opening bounce at 7.15pm AEST.

You can also catch all the action through K rock Football from 6.30pm.

Broadcast Guide 

FREMANTLE has recorded its fifth win of the season after defeating Geelong by 18 points at GMHBA Stadium on Tuesday night.

A dominant second half from experienced Dockers helped lead their side to the 6.9 (45) to 3.9 (27) victory on the Cats' home deck.

Former captain Hayley Miller (25 disposals, eight score involvements) lifted, as did recruit Aishling McCarthy (29 disposals, seven clearances) and stalwart Gabby O'Sullivan (19 disposals, two goals).

Inaccuracy in front of goals proved costly early for the Cats, with Geelong kicking six consecutive behinds to open the game.

Finally, eight minutes into the second term, Cats fan-favourite Aishling Moloney kicked the game's first after shaking off defender Ash Brazill.

From that moment on the game began to open up with four further goals scored before half-time.

Fremantle kicked three of the four, one each to Tunisha Kikoak, Miller and O'Sullivan, whilst Cats veteran Shelley Scott took an impressive overhead mark to score her first major for the game.

Despite having nine more scoring opportunities than its opponent in the first half, Geelong went into the main break holding a narrow one-point lead.

Fremantle came out firing at the start of the second half, kicking the first two of the second term.

Small forward Sarah Verrier kicked a superb dribble goal from the pocket, before a costly 50m penalty by Cats defender Anna-Rose Kennedy gifted O'Sullivan her second.

A Zali Friswell goal to start the final term gave the home side hope, but all was lost when the Dockers returned fire, sealing the game and making it four wins in a row for the Western Australians.

Cats eventful night

It was a rough night for Cats debutant Bryde O'Rourke whose first game was nearly over before it began. The father-daughter selection ran onto the ground to the cheers of the crowd, laid a huge tackle on the opposite wing, and then ran straight off. The 18-year-old injured her left shoulder, but much to the delight of Cats fans, returned to the ground. The tough defender tried to continue, but called it a night half way through the third quarter after playing in what seemed a fair amount of pain.

Up next

Both Geelong and Fremantle have two matches in week six, backing it up on Sunday afternoon. Geelong will fly to Sydney to take on the Swans at Henson Park, while Fremantle will head back to the west to play an in-form Hawthorn at Fremantle Oval.
 
GEELONG         0.4    2.7    2.8    3.9 (27)
FREMANTLE     0.0    3.0    5.6    6.9 (45)
 
GOALS
Geelong: A. Moloney, Scott, Friswell
Fremantle: O'Sullivan 2, Kikoak, Miller, Verrier, McCarthy
 
BEST
Geelong: Webster, Bowen, Prespakis, Friswell, Morrison
Fremantle: Strom, Miller, McCarthy, Lally, Newton
 
INJURIES
Geelong: O'Rourke (shoulder) 
Fremantle: Nil
 
Reports: Nil
 
Crowd: 2033 at GMHBA Stadium