Geelong return to their home ground this Friday night for their final game of the season against the GWS Giants. 

The Cats haven’t played at GMHBA Stadium since Round 5, when they came back for a thrilling three-point win over the West Coast Eagles.

This will also be the final game of the year for the GIANTS who sit in 11th position on the ladder having won three games this season.

GWS will be missing two of their best players; dual All Australian Alyce Parker and new recruit Chloe Dalton. Parker suffered a concussion in her side’s Round 9 clash with Richmond and Dalton received a one-match sanction for engaging in rough conduct.

Despite Parker and Dalton’s absence, the GIANTS have plenty of depth. Captain Alicia Eva is having a career best season, Rebecca Beeson had 31 disposals last weekend and forward Cora Staunton sits fourth in the competition for most goals scored.

Having both suffered losses in Round 9, both teams will be desperate to finish their seasons with a win next to their name.

The Details

Geelong Cats v GWS GIANTS

Friday 11 March 2022 at 6.10pm

GMHBA Stadium

Wadawurrung Country

Last Time They Met

GWS made their first trip to Geelong in AFLW history last season when they met the Cats in Round 8.

The Giants immediately looked at home at GMHBA Stadium when midfielder Haneen Zkreika gathered an errant Geelong kick and slotted the opening goal from a tight angle in the pocket.

Shortly after Geelong managed a goal of their own through key forward Phoebe McWilliams who gathered, spun out of a tackle and converted from close range.

In the second term veteran forward Cora Staunton kicked another goal from the boundary, this time from a set shot, with her unique Gaelic kicking style.

The remainder of the game was an arm wrestle and whilst Geelong looked dangerous at times, they weren’t able to add to their goal tally falling short by seven points.

The McDonald’s, Amy and Meg, were best for Geelong on the day with 21 and 19 possessions respectively, whilst Laura Gardiner impressed with 17 disposals and 11 tackles.

Djilang Round

This Friday night’s match will be Geelong’s Djilang game for the 2022 AFLW season. 

The Djilang Match recognises the impact of our nation’s first peoples on the great game of Australian Rules Football. Djilang is the Wadawurrung word for Geelong. 

Prior to the match a gift exchange will take place between the two teams.

Barber’s back

Geelong tall Olivia Barber will return this week after suffering a concussion in the Cats’ Round 8 win against Richmond. 

Barber impressed in the ruck with fourteen disposals and four marks.

The 19-year-old can also play up forward, rotating with Kate Darby and Phoebe McWilliams. With Liv Fuller also in the side, it will be interesting to see how these four will share their time in the ruck.

The Key Points

1)  Cora the scorer

Cora Staunton may be 40 years of age, but the Irish veteran isn’t showing signs of slowing down. This season Staunton is in career-best form booting 14 goals in nine games. 

Staunton doesn’t need to see much of the footy to have an impact. In the last two rounds the 175cm agile forward has scored five goals and three behinds from 16 disposals, therefore averaging a score every second disposal. 

The Irish woman can do it all. With strong marking capabilities overhead, speed when the ball’s on the deck and a unique, yet surprisingly accurate set shot.

Geelong’s defence will need to share the load when it comes to Cora the scorer.

2) Finding Parker’s possessions  

When looking at season averages for these two teams, there is not a lot separating them.

The Cats and the Giants are practically identical when it comes to average possessions (Geelong 194, GWS 195), clearances (Geelong 19.9, GWS 19.7), and inside 50s (Geelong 22.3, GWS 22.9).

One area that does stand out though is contested possessions where Geelong average eight more a game (Geelong 98.2, GWS 90.7).

GWS’ best contested ball winner is young midfield bull Alyce Parker who averages 11.3 a game. If you add Chloe Dalton’s average of 4.5, there are nearly 16 contested possessions the GIANTS will need to find in their absence.

Add these 16 to the teams’ differential, and there’s 24 contested possessions the GIANTS will need to match the Cats’ average.

How to Watch

Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster here.

For those wanting to follow along at home, the game will be broadcast live on Foxtel, and can be streamed through Kayo, womens.afl or the AFL Women’s and AFL Live Official Apps.

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