Match Preview 

It is crunch time for Geelong in round nine, as they prepare for their most important clash of the season against Richmond at Ikon Park on Saturday night. 

The Cats remain in the top eight despite losing three of their last four games, but only percentage now separates them and 13th spot on the ladder with two weeks remaining. 

The equation becomes a simple one for Geelong; win their last two games and play finals in 2023. 

The first clash will come against Richmond this week, who are currently one of the teams sitting level with the Cats on four wins for the year. 

The Tigers are coming off a tight win over Hawthorn last weekend but lost three consecutive games prior to that to fall out of the top eight.  

The Cats remain the sixth highest scoring team in the league but will need to recapture that power this week after registering just 15 goals in their last four games. 

With a home game against Hawthorn awaiting in the final round, getting the four points against Richmond on Saturday will go a long way to securing a finals berth for the Cats. 

Last Time They Met 

Geelong last faced Richmond in the opening round of season seven in 2022, with a late Georgie Prespakis goal pushing the Cats over the line for a nail biting four point victory.

The Cats trailed by eight points at the main break, before holding the Tigers to a single point for the entire second half to run over the top late in the final term. 

Prespakis was the standout all night, picking up 16 disposals and eight tackles while also kicking the Cats only two goals of the contest. 

Amy McDonald and Nina Morrison were at their brilliant best, with both players picking up 24 disposals and laying seven tackles in a dominant display through the middle. 

Claudia Gunjaca stood tall with two strong intercept marks late in the game, leading to Prespakis goal in the final minute which sealed victory for Geelong. 

Stopping Conti - The Stat that Matters 

The Cats midfield group will face a tough assignment this week, attempting to quell the influence of star Richmond on-baller, Monique Conti. 

Conti is widely regarded as one of the top players in the league averaging over 27 disposals, seven clearances, and six tackles per game in 2023. 

The 23 year old sits third in the league for total clearances this year, while her 35 disposal performance in round eight was the most of any AFLW player across the weekend. 

Conti is also damaging with ball in hand, averaging 400 metres gained per game which ranks her as one of the top players across the competition in this category. 

If there is any midfield group equipped to handle a star like Conti, it is the Cats with the likes of Georgie Prespakis and Amy McDonald driving one of the strongest on-ball divisions in the AFLW. 

The Cats have won the clearance battle in three of their last four games, but will need to be at their best once more to gain ascendency around stoppages against Richmond. 

Players to Watch

1.    Chloe Scheer

Scheer has been brilliant this season up forward for the Cats, booting a team high 14 goals for the year, and currently sits third on the AFLW goal kicking table. 

The key forward has booted multiple goals on four occasions in 2023 but was well held by the Collingwood backline last week in tough conditions at Victoria Park. 

With the Cats struggling to hit the scoreboard in recent weeks, watch for Scheer to return to her dominant ways against Richmond this Saturday.  

2.    Mikayla Bowen

Bowen has been a quiet achiever in the Cats line up this year, averaging a solid 13 disposals and four tackles per game in her second season at GMHBA Stadium. 

The versatile Cat has proven to be a big game player, booting two goals in Geelong’s round three clash against North Melbourne, and amassing a season high 17 disposals against the reigning premiers, Melbourne. 

Quote of the Week 

"The need to win is now really heightened. 

"The girls are pumped and primed for this weekend, then next week as well to finish the season on a real positive. 

"We have shown patches over the past few weeks that we can play some good footy, but its about putting all the pieces of the puzzle together over four quarters. 

It's a ripper game to play, Saturday night under the lights at IKON Park and it'll have that finals feel for sure." 

Dan Lowther