Renee Garing finished with the footy in hand and a giant grin on her face as the final siren sounded against Carlton on Saturday.

The Cats had fought their way back from seven points down with six minutes to play to claim a one-point victory at Ikon Park, but for Garing, it was so much more than four points on the board.

Since giving birth to her son Parker last May, Garing had played a few scratch matches and practice matches, but this had been her first game for points in more than 21 months.

The tough-as-nails midfielder/forward sat out AFLW Season 6 when she was pregnant, and while she worked her way back to be named an emergency in the second half of Season 7, Saturday’s VFLW clash was her first time back out in an official match.

“It was really nice – obviously we’ve played some scratch matches and some practice matches, but to play an official match for points brings a whole other level of intensity and excitement,” Garing said.

“And to wear the Hoops again alongside a couple of the girls I’ve been training with and being coached by some of my old teammates is pretty special as well. So people that I’ve shared the journey with, and then new faces as well in the VFLW group, to learn from them and work alongside them has been great.”

The highly-contested match suited Garing’s strength to a tee, with none surprised to see her name at the top of the list for Geelong’s tackle count with nine.

She also collected 17 disposals and six clearances in an impressive first game back.

“It was contested – lots of stoppages around the ground, but I love the nature of footy and the element of the physicality,” Garing said.

“It’s a bit different to training, where you are trying to go as hard as you can, but it’s different when you come up against an opposition and there’s four points on the line, so it was great.”

Garing was impressed by her young teammates’ efforts in the late stages of the tough battle as they dug deep to respond after the Blues pulled seven points clear.

Sheer determination out of the very next centre clearance from Charlotte Simpson - who was influential all game and heavily involved in the contest late - with Sophie O'Dea showing great composure to slot a goal and get the Cats within a point.

Two more behinds followed for the Cats under intense pressure, and with a one-point lead, they were able to absorb Carlton's challenge and hold on for the win.

“When it is a tight game and the scoreline is so close, it’s quite easy to get flustered, and I think that the group did really well to hold their own,” Garing said.

“Obviously Sophie getting that goal, and then just keeping it inside 50 after that to get another couple of points on the board and to take the lead (was impressive). But then to be inside their 50 in those last few minutes and just be able to hold it up (was really pleasing).

“You could hear the young ones stepping up and calling positioning, so it’s exciting for future games (as well).”

Garing said, after so long on the sidelines, she was eager to get as much match conditioning in as possible between now and the AFLW pre-season starting.

“I’ll play as much as the coaches think I can and should prior to pre-season,” she said.

“I’m really keen to play as much football (as I can), obviously having a bit of time on the sideline and not being able to replicate matches in a training session.

“I’ll try to get amongst the girls as much as I can and continue to learn forward craft and also work on my mid when there’s opportunities to play inside as well, so hopefully I’m ready come pre-season.”

The Cats’ next VFLW clash is against Darebin this Saturday at 12pm at Deakin University, Waurn Ponds.