Geelong has its first win on the board for AFLW Season 6 after holding on for a three-point win over West Coast Eagles.

The Cats had lead for almost the entire match, before the Eagles snatched the lead with just two minutes left on the clock.

But the Cats had the immediate reply, bursting out of the centre, with Darcy Moloney intercepting the ball as the Eagles tried to clear it from the top of the goal square to give the Cats back the lead.

The Eagles challenged late, but the Cats held on under immense pressure to win 4.3 (27) to 3.6 (24).

Amy McDonald (20 disposals, 12 clearances, 7 tackles) and Becky Webster (20 disposals, 11 tackles, 1 goal) were again among the Cats’ best, while Nina Morrison was solid in her return, and in the thick of the action in the final quarter, playing on the ball.

Phoebe McWilliams’ strong hands and straight kick saw her contribute two first-half goals, while Meghan McDonald led the Cats’ strong defence once again.

The Cats absorbed the Eagles’ pressure early, locking the ball up forward. It was Webster who broke through for the Cats’ first, getting on to the end of a sweeping handball from Nina Morrison under pressure, kicking from 35m out off a few steps.

Less than a minute later, Phoebe McWilliams took a good contested mark 20m out straight in front after the Cats cleared it from the centre bounce. She converted to give the Cats a 13-point lead, which they held on to until quarter-time.

The Eagles fought back in the second quarter, lifting their intensity and pressure to an even higher level and locking the ball in their forward half, but it took until there was just 1:20 left on the clock for the visitors to break through for their first goal.

But a brilliant play from Georgie Prespakis and a perfectly weighted kick saw McWilliams take another great contested mark, and kick truly after the siren to restore the Cats’ lead to 10 points at the main break.

It was the Eagles who stepped up in the third term, chipping away at the margin and reducing it to just two points at the final break, and eventually taking the lead in the fourth quarter.

But after a month of playing under intense pressure, the Cats were able to step up when it mattered to secure the four points.

Coach Dan Lowther, who registered his first win as coach, said it was pleasing to see the team get rewarded for all the effort they've put in so far this year, although they were made to work hard for the win by a determined Eagles side.

"At quarter-time, I thought we had the game well and truly on our terms, and then they kept us pretty honest for three quarters," he said.

"To get over the line late, again, to find some resilience to hold our poise late in the game was really good.

"It's really important for the group to see that the work they've done for the last five months is rewarding and paid off. It galvanised the group.

"To see them after the game, happy with the work they've put in and the style and method that they're playing - althought we went away from that a little today - was a real positive."

The Cats have a nine-day turnaround before their next match, against the Gold Coast in Queensland on Sunday, February 13.

AFLW Round 5 Geelong v West Coast

Geelong         2.1    3.1    3.1    4.3 (27)
West Coast    0.0    1.3    2.5    3.6 (24)

GOALS
Geelong: McWilliams 2, Webster, Moloney 
West Coast: Bowen, N Kelly, Schmidt  

BEST
Geelong: A. McDonald, Morrison, Prespakis, McWilliams, Moloney  
West Coast: Swanson, Lewis, Bowen, N Kelly, Hooker

INJURIES 
Geelong: Nil 
West Coast: McCarthy (wrist) 

Reports: Nil 

Crowd: 1938 at GMHBA Stadium