Geelong has been renowned for the pressure it has applied over the past two seasons, but it has been the Cats' ball use that has emerged as one of their key strengths in Season 7.
This season, the Cats are controlling play better than they ever have before, which has seen their movement into attack improve significantly. Averaging 65.8 per cent disposal efficiency - the highest in the competition this season - Geelong is also leading all sides for marks with 46.4 per game, and as a result, inviting less pressure from opponents.
Of Geelong's 10 players who have registered 100 or more disposals this season, seven are going at a disposal efficiency of 65 per cent or higher.
The Cats' lowest disposal efficiency of the season, 52.9 per cent, came in a very wet and slippery game in Round 2, whereby they held Fremantle goalless and registered a 26-point win. Outside of that game, Geelong never dropped below an efficiency of 60 per cent.
Against Sydney last week, Geelong registered an incredible 75.9 per cent disposal efficiency as a team.
The charge this season has been led by the likes of elite ball-users Chantel Emonson (77.11 per cent disposal efficiency on average), Georgie Prespakis (75.28) and Annabel Johnson (71.83).
Emonson has been a key part of Geelong's forward drives from half-back, with her elite kicking a big asset for the Cats.
Fellow defender Johnson has made good use of the ball when she cuts off opposition attacks, while Prespakis and fellow mid Amy McDonald (64.80 per cent efficiency) have made their efforts count when winning the ball for Geelong.
The Cats will be looking for more of the same when they take on North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos this Saturday in the Elimination Final at GMHBA Stadium. First bounce is at 7.10pm AEDT. Get your tickets from Ticketmaster today.
Cats' Top 10 for Disposal Efficiency
*players with 100 disposals or more
Player | Disposal Efficiency (%) | Disposals |
Chantel Emonson | 77.11 | 118 |
Georgie Prespakis | 75.28 | 182 |
Annabel Johnson | 71.83 | 103 |
Liv Fuller | 69.81 | 116 |
Meghan McDonald | 68.91 | 119 |
Zali Friswell | 67.56 | 111 |
Mikayla Bowen | 66.91 | 139 |
Amy McDonald | 64.80 | 250 |
Nina Morrison | 59.88 | 157 |
Becky Webster | 54.40 | 182 |