Geelong are set for Week 1 of the 2024 AFLW season, as they prepare for a 2023 Semi-Final rematch against Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday night.
The Cats will be looking to start their campaign on a positive note, following a successful season in 2023 which saw them make it all the way to a Preliminary Final.
GMHBA Stadium started to turn into a fortress for Geelong last year, winning their last three consecutive games at home in the back half of the season.
Melbourne will provide a stern test for the Cats in Week 1, looking to respond after being knocked out of the 2023 Finals series in straight sets.
2023 Ladder Positions
Geelong: 6th (6-3-1)
Melbourne: 2nd (8-2)
Points For
Geelong – 449
Melbourne - 653
Points Against
Geelong – 318
Melbourne - 293
Limiting Melbourne’s Key Forwards
Melbourne’s biggest threat is their two dominant key forwards, Kate Hore and Eden Zanker, who both shared the AFLW’s leading goalkicker award in the 2023 home and away season.
Hore also finished 1st in the competition for score involvements and 3rd for marks inside 50, while Zanker ranked in the top 10 for both tackles and marks inside 50.
The Cats had one of the strongest defensive units in the AFLW last year, led by Meg McDonald and Claudia Gunjaca, conceding an average of 31.8 points per game in the regular season which was the fourth least points conceded by any team.
In the 2023 Semi-Final, Zanker kicked three goals but Hore was held goalless, proving that the Cats have the ability to restrict the damaging forwards.
Controlling the clearance battle
One area that Melbourne were able to control in last year’s Semi-Final was stoppage clearances, beating the Cats (29 – 21) in that statistical category.
The Demons had four players who ranked inside the top 40 in the competition for clearances last season, including Tyla Hanks (13th) and Olivia Purcell (21st).
Fortunately this is one of the Cats biggest strengths, with three midfield stars finishing inside the top 11 for clearances in 2023 including Georgie Prespakis (1st), Amy McDonald (3rd) and Nina Morrison (11th).
Finding ways past the Demons Defenders
At the other end of the ground, Melbourne have two impressive defenders who showed last year that they are prepared to do the tough things to benefit their team.
Tahlia Gillard and Libby Birch ranked numbers one and two in the competition for spoils last season, while both sitting in the top 20 for intercept possessions and one percent efforts.
The Cats will look to combat this threat with their potent and dangerous forward line, which ranked sixth in the AFLW for points per game in 2023.
