With just five rounds remaining, Geelong has put together its strongest start to a season in the AFLW and will look to keep the momentum rolling.

The Cats sit 6th on the ladder with three wins and two losses at the halfway point, and have given Cats fans plenty to cheer about in the opening five rounds.

With games in Ballarat, Warrnambool, Carlton and Norwood (South Australia) to come in the next month, the Cats will be hoping to take their good form on the road.

Cats Media looks at some of the key stories to emerge from the first half of the season.

Brick Wall Defence

The Cats’ defence was stellar in Season 6, and they have taken it to another level this season.

Led by the brilliance of skipper Meghan McDonald – who is putting together a very solid case for her third All-Australian selection – the Cats’ defence has conceded just 76 points this season (15.2 points a game on average), which is a league-best.

McDonald is third in the league for intercept possessions (41 at 8.2 per game), but it is how she wins the intercepts and dominates one-on-one contests that has been truly impressive.

Claudia Gunjaca has been a revelation in defence since making the switch from the forward line at the start of the season, while the likes of Georgie Rankin and Chantel Emonson have once again been solid contributors.

Annabel Johnson’s return from injury has been very welcome, with her ability to read the play and intercept at will a highlight.

Magnificent Midfielders

Incredibly, Amy McDonald has managed to take her game to a new level in Season 7. The two-time Cats best and fairest winner is well in the frame to make it three in a row after a dominant start to the season.

The 24-year-old is ranked number one in the league for disposals, averaging 26.4 per game. McDonald is also number one for clearances (7.6 per game), and has brought her trademark tackling pressure in Season 7, averaging seven tackles per game.

McDonald put in a career-best performance against St Kilda last week, becoming the first AFLW player to put together a game with 30+ disposals, 10+ clearances and 10+ tackles. She also broke the club record for most disposals in an AFLW match with her 34 touches.

Second-season Cat Georgie Prespakis has also been brilliant and elevated her game this season.

The 19-year-old is averaging 22.2 disposals a game (+8.9 from Season 6), 297.6m gained per game (+96.8m), 13.2 contested possessions (+4.6), 5.6 clearances (+2.1) and 8.4 tackles (+1.6).

With a midfield that also boasts the likes of Becky Webster, Nina Morrison, Mikayla Bowen, and at times Chloe Scheer, the Cats are emerging as one of the top midfields in the league.

Classy Chloe

Speaking of Chloe Scheer, the forward/midfielder is putting together another solid season. Able to provide drive and smash through traffic in the middle, she has also provided a reliable target up forward, routinely taking brilliant contested grabs.

Scheer equalled her career-best – and the club’s best – goals in a game when she booted three against St Kilda last week, including a brilliant curling left foot snap from the boundary line.

Scheer also won the Round 4 Mark of the Year award for a brilliant contested grab against North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos in Launceston.

Near impossible to beat in a marking contest, Scheer is always a threat up forward.

Shelley’s Forward Switch

Shelley Scott was excellent in defence for the first four games, but when she moved back to her familiar position in the forward line, it was as though everything else clicked into place for the Cats.

Crashing packs and taking snaps, Scott fitted into the Cats’ forward structure seamlessly and enhanced it, booting three excellent goals.

On the back of such a strong performance, it might be unlikely that we see much more of Shelley Scott the Defender this year, but Maddy Keryk was able to step seamlessly back into the Cats’ defence and made a solid contribution.

Records Tumble

The St Kilda game last week was the game when everything finally clicked for the Cats.

The defence stood up as it always does. The midfield was relentless with its pressure and attack. And with better entries into the forward line, the Cats were able to impact on the scoreboard.

In a big way.

The Cats booted 11.5 (71) – their highest ever AFLW score, for their biggest ever AFLW win, as they defeated the Saints by 50 points.

In a game where Amy McDonald also broke the club record for disposals (34) and the league record for contested possessions (23), Cats fans got to see the team at its best.

The challenge now before the Cats is to carry that form forward as they prepare for a tough five weeks ahead.

The Cats’ journey continues against Western Bulldogs this Saturday at Mars Stadium, Ballarat. First bounce is at 2.10pm.

Get your tickets from Ticketmaster here.