Geelong’s VFLW side opened its account for 2023 with a thrilling one-point win over Carlton at Ikon Park on Saturday.

In a tough, highly-contested battle, the Cats worked their way back from a seven-point deficit midway through the third to scrape home with a 3.4 (22) to 2.9 (21) win over the Blues.

Carlton led by 10 points after an arm-wrestle of an opening term, before the Cats fought their way back into the contest with goals to Liv Cicolini and Ella Firth to take a two-point lead into the main break.

Neither side was willing to give an inch in the third quarter as Geelong clung on to a one-point lead, but it was the Blues who made the most of their chances in the final term to work their way to a seven-point lead.

However, the Cats found a way to fight back, with Charlotte Simpson personifying Geelong’s determination late in the game with a gutsy clearance out of the centre.

Sophie O’Dea finished off the great team play with a clean kick for goal to get the Cats within one point.

Cicolini levelled the score with just over three minutes remaining, before desperation from Simpson with a snap from a pack gave the Cats the lead - albeit by one point.

Geelong’s defence stood up in the final minutes to protect the lead as the Cats got on the board for season 2023.

“To win a game like that is exciting, to show the resilience to come from a kick and a bit behind with four minutes to go when we hadn’t been scoring highly, just to take the game on and to win it, I’m just excited that the players get to feel that joy that comes from a one-point win,” Geelong Cats VFLW Senior Coach Elise Coventry said.

“We’re a young group – we’ve got a heap of talent in the group, but stuff like that takes practice and sometimes years to do well, to win close games.

"So for them to do that in Round 2 as a group builds belief, but also builds that team cohesion amongst them so they know that to come off with a win like that, you have to work as a team and bring it all together in a short period of time.

"It’s going to be huge for the group – you can see and hear it already in the rooms, they’re buzzing, so it’s going to be a good week, I think.”

There were plenty of Cats who are already building strong form in the early stages of the season, from a sterling defence, to a determined midfield and a tireless forward line.

Simpson finished the day with 26 disposals, 10 clearances and six tackles in another great midfield performance, while Melissa Bragg and Abbey McDonald were again fantastic in defence and Analea McKee made her presence felt all over the ground.

“'Simmo' was huge in the midfield, and that was something she really wanted to work on this year, her midfield craft, and I thought today she did that from the first quarter, which was really good,” Coventry said.

“Abbey and 'Braggy', coming from our AFLW program, it’s really nice to see those girls step up and lead and drag everyone along with them. And I think they do that, because then (Emily) Worpel and Sarah Perrott and the like join in that momentum and follow along.

"Abbey’s explosiveness out of the back half and then to use the footy with a lot of composure is great. 'Braggy' with her contested stuff and just grabbing the ball out of the air at the highest point, she provides such important stability for us behind there.

"Ahead of the ball, I thought Analea was really important – she has been for us the past two games, she provides such a great target forward. She goes into the ruck and then plays such a great role in defence for us when she’s the resting ruck.

"There’s some really talented girls in there, a mixture of AFLW players and VFLW-listed players that are leading by example."

Renee Garing made an impressive return in her first official game since the Cats’ VFLW preliminary final in 2021, leading the Cats for tackles with nine for the match, to go with 17 disposals.

"Midfield was so important – for 'Ney' to come back for her first official game since having Parker and to play the way she did, to get in and under … for her to play a contested style of footy like that is just massive for us," Coventry said.

Geelong will find out during the week the extent of an ankle injury suffered by Poppy Schaap in the third term.

With their first win on the board, the Cats turn their attention to Darebin, whom they host at Deakin University Elite Sports Precinct on Easter Saturday.

VFLW Round 2

Carlton     1.5   1.6   1.7   2.9 (21)
Geelong   0.1   2.2   2.2   3.4 (22)

GOALS

Carlton Maddie Di Cosmo, Ashlee Thorneycroft
Geelong Liv Cicolini, Ella Firth, Sophie O’Dea