Analea McKee says a stint in the VFLW while still a junior footballer helped show her the hard work required to take her game to the next level.

The 19-year-old played seven games in the back half of Geelong’s VFLW season last year, after an impressive final season with the Geelong Falcons, and debuted against the Casey Demons in Round 9 that season.

It was that stint with the VFLW Cats that gave McKee an insight as to what would be expected once she reached senior football.

“I think going from junior footy and then when you’re with the senior women, you really step up because you’re around more mature people, which brings you to be more mature,” McKee said.

“You can really develop as a person and on the footy field because you get to watch how they’re doing it.

“From last year, I got to watch how hard they put in effort and thought, ‘Okay, I have to put in all that effort to make the team each week and to really push myself’.

“I think it's been a positive thing for me to be able to be involved in the VFLW this whole season, because it’s also made me a bit more comfortable. Last year I was in multiple teams and always thrown all over the joint, but this year I’ve been able to be in one club, and being with all these amazing coaches, it’s been great.”

McKee has been thriving in Geelong’s VFLW side, playing predominantly forward but pinch-hitting in the ruck or pushing into defence as needed.

She is averaging 10 disposals a game and has kicked six goals for the season, including a match-winning three-goal effort against Essendon in Round 9.

Strong marking ability has made McKee an ideal forward target, but her pressure at the contest has also been exemplary, 4.5 tackles per game, with a season-high of 12 tackles against Darebin in Round 3.

“Being able to go down there (in the forward line) and show off my skill with my marking and things like that has been really good, and then building off the girls,” McKee said.

“With the forward craft, (I’ve) been really building on that because I can really launch at the ball.

“Then the ruck is just there when the team needs me in there, and when ‘Flynny’ (VFLW coach Elise Coventry) wants to throw me in there – I’m happy to do whatever for the team.

“And then if (Coventry) wants to put me down the back line, I’m happy to as well, because I can play multiple positions, but this year I’m really focussed on the forward line.”

McKee was playing as a defender when she made her debut against the Demons last year, but a lot has changed for her and both teams as they prepare to face off at Deakin University on Saturday.

Last year, the Demons proved far too strong at home, but the Cats will be hoping to produce more of their trademark gutsy efforts that sees them sit atop the VFLW ladder this season.

After a disappointing loss to Essendon last week, the Cats will be looking to fight back onto the winners’ list, albeit without many of their AFLW-listed players.

But McKee is confident the Cats can produce their best football when they are working together as a team – regardless of the 21 who take the field each week.

“When we play as a team, we play our best brand of footy,” she said.

“When we work for each other, when we see someone else is open or in the best position, I think it’s really good and I reckon we’re a pretty close group and we all get along really well.

“I know that we have changes every week of different players coming in and out, but we just have to gel and be like, ‘Yep, this is the team, let’s go. Let’s work hard and work for each other’.”

Geelong takes on Casey Demons at Deakin University Elite Sports Precinct on Saturday. First bounce is at 12pm, with the match also to be streamed on the Official AFL App and website.