The VFLW Cats will take plenty of learnings from their round 11 clash after going down to premiership fancies, the Western Bulldogs by 71 points on Saturday afternoon.

Lily Jordan was dominant all day amassing 18 disposals, six clearances and seven tackles while Sophie Mahar (14 disposals & seven tackles), Poppy Schaap (13 disposals & five tackles) and Hannah Burchell (13 disposals & 1 Goal) all competed strongly in a hotly contested game. 

The young Cats outfit faced a tough task against the Bulldogs, who had won their past five games in a row to sit level at the top of the VFLW ladder.

The Cats brought plenty of pressure early, leading the tackle count at the first break but the Bulldogs managed to hit the scoreboard late in the term, opening up a 24 point lead at quarter time.

Lily Jordan led the way for Geelong early, picking up eight disposals and laying four tackles in the first quarter.

The Cats flipped the script in the second quarter, dominating general play across the ground but were unable to capitalise on the scoreboard, as they trailed by 38 points at the main break.

Geelong squared up most of the major statistical categories in the second quarter, recording more inside 50’s, disposals and tackles than the Bulldogs, but couldn’t find an effective avenue to goal.

Caitlin Reid put together a dominant half of football in the ruck, winning 20 hit-outs and 12 disposals to go alongside a pair of clearances and two tackles.

Breanna Pratt, Poppy Schaap and Lily Jordan were strong around the contest, combining for 15 tackles in the first half.

The third quarter proved to be more of the same for the Cats, who looked strong around the ground but couldn’t hurt the Bulldogs where it mattered most, trailing by 54 points at the final break.

A piece of individual defensive brilliance from Molly Walton was the highlight of the third quarter, running down her opponent at the top of the square to save a certain goal, winning the ball back for the Cats.

Hannah Burchell launched through a lovely set shot in the last quarter for Geelong, but the Bulldogs were able to shut the game down to close out the 71 point win. 

The VFLW Cats will head to Box Hill next week for a clash with the Hawks, with the first bounce at 11.30am on Sunday. 

VFLW Round 11

GEELONG CATS               0.0    0.0    0.0     1.2     (8)
WESTERN BULLDOGS     4.0    6.2    8.6    12.7    (79)
 
GOALS: Burchell 1

DISPOSALS: Jordan 18, Mahar 14, Schaap, Pratt, Burchell 13

@ Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee