Geelong has come away with a thrilling two point victory over Essendon at Tullamarine today.

The Cats arrived at the NEC Hangar looking to maintain top spot on the ladder, but with the Bombers riding a five game winning streak, the contest promised plenty and delivered more. 

Match Centre: Geelong v Essendon

Charlotte Simpson (26 disposals) and Renee Garing (20) were the leading ball winners for Geelong, but it was Analea Mckee's three goals, including two critical majors in the fourth quarter that was the difference as the the Cats held on in what was billed as the match of the round. 

In the first term, the Cats defended well with Ingrid Houtsma laying four tackles and  Charlotte Simpson getting plenty of the footy going the other way.

As the rain began to fall in the second term, Geelong found their groove after Emma Gilligan kicked a goal for Geelong and Analea McKee followed with another.

The contest became an arm wrestle in the third before Analea McKee stepped up, her two goals pushing Geelong into the lead.

Cats coach Elise Coventry highlighted that it was an evenly matched contest between Geelong and Essendon.

“Statistically we were in control of the game for a lot of it so it made it quite frustrating that we couldn’t get in front until that last quarter,” she said.

“It challenged the girls at each break to start to reward themselves for the way that they were able to control their possessions and so it was just nice that in the last quarter it seemed to sort of click for us.

“We changed a few things positionally to support that and they could get the reward for their effort.

Coventry said she was proud of the team’s ability to come together and move into a winning position.

“I enjoyed the last quarter when it started to come together. I could see that the girls were building each quarter and trying to add things to their game to help us score and it just wasn’t happening,” she said.

“It was just nice to see in the last that we were able to put a few of those possessions together to end in goals.

Coventry’s standout players across the game were McKee and Charlotte Simpson who had 26 disposals and four tackles as well as Olivia Fuller, Melissa Bragg and Houtsma.

“There were a lot that we could consider in our best players,” she said.

“It was nice to see Analea who every week just competes in mark and contest outnumbered with extra defenders this week for her to take a few marks and kick some goals was good.

“Particularly Charlotte coming off an injury which is a lot to do with her movement. For her to come back into the side and play in the middle and impact as she does, she’s just the ball winner in those tight contests.

“Olivia Fuller in the last quarter playing predominantly ruck which is where she’s comfortable playing. It felt like she just urged us forward with her taps and then follow up just to get the ball in our forward half which helped us lock it in.

“Braggy (Melissa Bragg) found herself sort of settling into her role and the way the dangerous sort of forward movement from Mia Rae Clifford in particular who’s a really a good goal scorer for them, and Ingrid Houstma, I feel for her third game with us sorted started to settle in and have a real impact."

In Round 10, the Cats will face Port Melbourne at Deakin University on Saturday. First bounce is at 12pm.

Geelong       0.0.  2.1.  2.2.  4.4 (28)
Essendon     1.6.  3.0.  3.1.  4.2 (26)

Disposals
Simpson 26, Garing 20, Houtsma 16, McDonald 15, Ramsay 15

Goals
Mckee 3, Gilligan 1