The NAB AFLW Season is just around the corner, with the Cats taking on Melbourne in their opening round clash at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday, August 31 at 7.15pm.
Geelong will be looking to build on its 2023 campaign, which saw them reach a Preliminary Final.
Geelong – 2023 Season
Coach: Daniel Lowther
Captain: Meghan McDonald
Home and Away: 6-4 (141.2%)
Ladder Position: 6th Place
Finals Results
Elimination Final: Geelong def Essendon by 18 points @ GMHBA Stadium
Semi Final: Geelong def Melbourne by 5 points @ GMHBA Stadium
Preliminary Final: Geelong def by Brisbane by 4 points @ Brighton Homes Arena
Club Best & Fairest: Georgie Prespakis
AFLW Best First Year Player: Aishling Moloney
Ins and Outs
Ins: Bella Smith (Brisbane), Chantal Mason, Bryde O’Rourke (Draft), Kate Kenny (Rookie), Lilly Pearce, Caitlin Thorne (Replacement Players)
Outs: Annabel Johnson (West Coast), Renee Garing, Erin Hoare (Retired), Sam Gooden, Ingrid Houtsma, Mia Skinner (Delisted)
Inactive list: Olivia Fuller has been placed on Geelong’s inactive list for the 2024 NAB AFLW Season to pursue a career in the Australian Defence Force.
Three Players to Watch
Georgie Prespakis: The star Cat elevated her game to a new level in 2023, firmly cementing herself as one of the competition’s top midfielders to help lead Geelong to a Preliminary Final.
Prespakis averaged 24 disposals, seven tackles and seven clearances per game last season, and will be instrumental in the Cats' success once again in 2024.
Chloe Scheer: After earning her first All-Australian selection in 2022, Scheer was once again a dominant force up forward for the Cats last year.
Booting a career-high 20 goals from 12 games in 2023, Scheer finished fourth on the competition’s goal kicking leaderboard while kicking multiple goals on five different occasions.
Darcy Moloney: The young gun continues build, expanding her abilities as a forward while also spending more time through the midfield in 2023.
Moloney averaged over 14 disposals and five tackles per game last year, including a career high 21 disposals against the Western Bulldogs (round one) and against Port Adelaide (round four).
New Spark
Chantal Mason: Mason is an exciting young key forward, joining the Cats in the AFLW draft last season from the Geelong Falcons program.
Excelling in the Coates Talent League, Mason won the leading goalkicker award after booting 31 goals in 13 regular season games, including a 21-goal streak across four games through the middle of the season.
With hauls of 7.2 and 6.1 against the Bendigo Pioneers and Tasmania Devils respectively, Mason will be an exciting prospect to keep an eye on this season.
It’s a Big Year For
Becky Webster: Webster has developed into one of the competition’s best young talents, showing a strong ability to play through the midfield and across half back.
The Cats star averaged a career-high 18 disposals in 2023, providing great run and carry through the middle of the ground while leading the team for uncontested possessions.
2024 Squad
1. Mikayla Bowen
2. Bella Smith
3. Amy McDonald
4. Darcy Moloney
5. Jackie Parry
6. Julia Crockett-Grills
7. Kate Surman
8. Kate Darby
9. Nina Morrison
10. Georgie Rankin
11. Meghan McDonald
12. Kate Kenny
13. Olivia Fuller (Inactive)
14. Chloe Scheer
15. Shelley Scott
16. Chantel Emonson
17. Lilly Pearce
18. Anna-Rose Kennedy
19. Brooke Plummer
20. Zali Friswell
21. Becky Webster
22. Rachel Kearns
23. Bryde O’Rourke
24. Chantal Mason
25. Caitlin Thorne
26. Claudia Gunjaca
32. Gabbi Featherston
39. Abbey McDonald
41. Georgie Prespakis
44. Melissa Bragg
45. Aishling Moloney
