Geelong travel to the Gold Coast for a Week 4 clash with the Suns, still searching for their first win of the 2024 AFLW season.
The Cats will be looking to bounce back after falling to Carlton last week, struggling to impact the scoreboard in tough conditions at IKON Park.
Gold Coast have had similar results to Geelong through the opening three rounds, falling by one point to Carlton in Week 2 and finishing in a draw with GWS last Sunday.
Both teams will be keen to ignite their 2024 campaign this weekend, with a win moving either team back within one game of the top eight.
2024 Ladder
Gold Coast: 16th (0-2-1)
Geelong: 15th (0-2-1)
Points For
Gold Coast - 94
Geelong - 81
Points Against
Gold Coast - 149
Geelong - 107
Finding a way to score
Gold Coast have leaked the third most total points of any team in the competition across the opening three games, conceding an average of 50 points per game.
The Cats have uncharacteristically struggled to hit the scoreboard this season, averaging 27 points per game which is well down on their average from 2023 of 45 points per game.
Geelong failed to kick a goal from 22 inside 50’s against Carlton, an area they will need to rectify against the Suns who are statistically an easier team to score against.
Stopping Charlie Rowbottom
Suns star Charlie Rowbottom has well and truly announced herself as one of the competitions top midfielders, dominating the opening three weeks of the season.
Rowbottom ranks in the AFLW’s top five for disposals, inside 50’s, clearances, contested possessions and tackles so far in 2024.
With Georgie Prespakis set to miss Saturday’s clash, the Cats on-ball division will need to find a way to nullify Rowbottom’s impact.
Controlling the midfield battle
Outside of Rowbottom’s impressive form, the Suns have also been very strong around stoppages in the opening three weeks led by their dominance in the ruck.
In their first three games the Suns recorded 72 more hit-outs than their opponents, registering their biggest discrepancies against St Kilda (+24) and GWS (+41).
Hit-outs have been an area of concern for the Cats in 2024, as they look to find other ways to get their midfielders first use around stoppage situations.
