Claudia Gunjaca has quickly developed into one of the top intercept defenders in the competition this year, anchoring a stingy Cats backline that has helped lead them to their first Semi Final this Sunday.

Gunjaca has squared off with and locked down a number of the league’s top forwards this season, averaging a career high 12 disposals and four marks per game in the process.

The 26 year old was dominant in the Cats elimination final win over Essendon, amassing 15 possessions as Geelong opened up an unassailable lead by half time.

The attention now turns to a huge Semi Final clash with Melbourne this Sunday, with the Cats getting the chance to end the Demons premiership defence.

Gunjaca said the group is excited about the challenge ahead of them, entering the game with plenty of confidence after a strong win over the Bombers.

"Obviously it is a really great feeling heading into another final after the win on Sunday,” Gunjaca said. 

“Everyone was up and about on Monday for training, it has been a great feeling so far and we are keen to keep going throughout the week. 

"I am more excited about this weekend than anything else, very keen to play on Sunday but I wish it was a Saturday because I hate hanging around for it.

"Straight after the Melbourne game earlier in the year, we looked back on it and reviewed it pretty heavily. 

"We will touch on that again heading into this week, but we are also a much improved team in comparison to that game so we won't look back too much.” 

The Cats defensive unit has grown stronger each week in 2023, conceding an average of just 24 points per game to opposition teams in their last six matches.

Gunjaca said the backline has continued to gel right throughout the season, developing confidence in one another and it was on full display in the Essendon clash.

"I think the more games we play together as a defensive group, the better we get,” Gunjaca said. 

“We had a few different players roll through there at times, but we started to gel together especially the likes of Becky Webster and Rachel Kearns.

"The more that we play together, the more connected we have felt so that has been a big thing for us. 

"We knew that we had to get off to a hot start again, because you know that Essendon will come back which they did in the second half. 

"We realised we would have to hold on a little, and put in a consistent effort across four quarters which we did."