The start of the 2022 NAB AFL Women’s season is just around the corner! After a huge pre-season, the Cats are ready and raring to go as they strive to climb the ladder in AFLW 6.0.

Fit and Firing

In their only practice hitout before the season proper, the Cats showed some of what they have been diligently working away at over the pre-season.

A new game style, coupled with a focus on consistency and improved fitness, saw the Cats take the lead early against Richmond, and hold sway to eventually win by 23 points.

Pleasingly for players and fans alike, the game yielded 18 scoring shots, the most ever by the Cats in the AFLW, with a few more attempts not quite making it in the tricky conditions.

The Cats have put a special emphasis on improving their running ability and strength and conditioning this season, bringing in running coaches Anula Costa and Dom Trimboli, as well as Olympic weightlifting coaches Michael Torriero and Caity Haniver.

With a tough test first up against North Melbourne at Arden Street Oval, the Cats will be aiming to hit the ground running and show how far they’ve come in the 12 months since the two 2019 expansion sides last faced off.

The New Faces

The off-season saw a host of new players join the club, with the Cats bringing in nine exciting recruits – nearly a third of their list.

Established AFLW players Chloe Scheer (premiership player at Adelaide) and Chantel Emonson (from Melbourne) have brought their skills and new perspectives into the group, with 28-year-old Emonson already named in the Cats’ leadership group.

There are also three new players whom fans of Geelong’s VFLW side will be familiar with: VFLW vice-captain Claudia Gunjaca, ruck Liv Fuller and midfielder Annabel Johnson were all elevated to the club's AFLW list.

Gunjaca and Fuller were picked up as pre-draft mature age recruits, while Johnson was scooped up with pick 15 in the draft.

The draft saw the Cats look to the metro region as well as locally, with Calder Cannons duo Georgie Prespakis (first Victorian selection and pick 2 overall in the draft) and Zali Friswell (pick 7) joining Geelong Falcons graduate Gabbi Featherston (pick 9) at the club.

Georgie Prespakis gets a kick away against Richmond in the Practice Match. Photo: Arj Giese

The Cats also have their first international signing, with talented Irish sports star Rachel Kearns signing on as an other sport rookie.

And while not technically a ‘new’ face, Dan Lowther has a new role in 2022, taking over the senior coaching reins from Paul Hood. Josh Finch replaces Lowther as the midfield coach, Aaron Black will continue as forwards coach, and Adelaide premiership ruck Jess Foley will step up as the defence coach, having been a development coach last season.

The Returns

After missing the entire 2021 season as she worked her way back from a knee injury, Nina Morrison is as eager as anyone to get back out on the track in 2022, and had a promising practice hitout against Richmond earlier in December. She has also been elevated to the vice-captaincy – an impressive feat for the 21-year-old.

After starting the pre-season as a train-on partner following the birth of her daughter Ella, Kate Darby has also been re-added to the Cats’ primary list as a replacement for Renee Garing, who is expecting the birth of her first child in mid-2022.

The Familiar Faces

While there are plenty of new players to get excited about, the whole playing group is eager to show they can take their game to a new level in 2022.

Becky Webster, who turned 21 in October, is ready to build on her breakthrough 2021 season which saw her earn a Rising Star nomination and be named in the AFLPA’s 22under22 team.

Becky Webster dishes off a handball against Richmond in the practice match. Photo: Arj Giese

Reigning Cats best and fairest Amy McDonald will also be keen to pick up where she left off, after wowing in just her second season of AFLW.

Meghan McDonald has been named skipper for a second season, and will continue to lead the charge from defence, with the support of fellow leadership group member Maddy Keryk.

Second-year Cat Darcy Moloney has impressed out on the track and showed good signs during the 2021 VFLW competition, while Georgia Clarke gained confidence and momentum after an impressive 18-goal VFLW season.

Georgie Rankin and Julia Crockett-Grills have grown as leaders, which was reflected when they were named in the leadership group for the first time, while all 21 Cats returning from last year are keen to show the improvements they’ve made after a gruelling pre-season.

The 2022 Cats AFLW Leadership Group features three new members in Julia Crockett-Grills, Georgie Rankin and Chantel Emonson, and a new vice captain in Nina Morrison.

The Fixture

For the first time in the NAB AFL Women’s competition, the home and away season will run for 10 rounds.

Provided COVID doesn’t throw a few stray bounces their way, this is what the Cats’ 2022 campaign will look like:

Round 1 vs North Melbourne at Arden Street Oval
Round 2 vs Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium
Round 3 vs Collingwood at GMHBA Stadium – Pride Round
Round 4 vs Brisbane at Maroochydore
Round 5 vs West Coast Eagles at GMHBA Stadium
Round 6 vs Gold Coast Suns at Fankhauser Reserve
Round 7 vs Fremantle at GMHBA Stadium
Round 8 vs Richmond at Swinburne Centre – Indigenous Round
Round 9 vs St Kilda at RSEA Park
Round 10 vs GWS Giants at GMHBA Stadium

Check out the full fixture here.

The Members

The Cats AFLW family is growing all the time! Even before the first ball has been bounced for season 2022, Geelong has smashed its club AFLW membership record and now has more than 3,000 W members.

If you’re looking to sign up for an AFLW membership, or want to add an AFLW supporter membership add-on to your existing membership, check out our range of packages here.