Geelong hit the road this weekend for their final game in the condensed period, taking on Sydney this Sunday at Henson Park.
The Cats need to secure the four points to keep their Finals aspirations alive, but the Swans are a strong team and are typically hard to beat on their home turf.
Sydney boast a number of talented players who have the ability to win a game off their own boot, Geelong will need to pay close attention through the midfield in particular.
Over the condensed period the Swans have played some decent footy, but were on the wrong side of the results recording seven and three point losses in their previous two matches.
2024 Ladder
Sydney: 11th (2-4)
Geelong: 15th (1-4-1)
Points For
Sydney – 197
Geelong - 265
Points Against
Sydney – 251
Geelong - 258
Stopping Laura Gardiner
The Cats will see a familiar face on Sunday, squaring off against Laura Gardiner who has quickly risen into the top echelon of midfielders over the past two seasons.
In 2024 Gardiner ranks third in the competition for disposals, while sitting in the AFLW’s top fifteen players for clearances (9th), contested possessions (9th) and tackles (15th).
With Gardiner coming off a 35-disposal game in her last outing and the Cats struggling through the midfield, Geelong will need to find a way to nullify the Swans star on Sunday.
Winning the midfield battle
Despite only winning two games so far in 2024, Sydney have been strong through the midfield and have not lost the clearance battle in any of their last four games.
By comparison this has been an area of concern for Geelong, struggling against Fremantle on Tuesday night and losing clearances 21 to 32.
The Cats have surprisingly not won the clearance battle in any of their six matches so far in 2024, so it will be up to the likes of Georgie Prespakis and Nina Morrison to change that on Sunday.
Getting Busy in the Contest
After documenting that the Cats were being well beaten in contested possession numbers across the opening five weeks (-66), this area unfortunately did not improve against Fremantle.
Geelong trailed in the statistic (91-111) against the Dockers, with Georgie Prespakis the only Cat in the top six contested possession leaders on the ground.
Sydney are another team who are strong around the contest with Sofia Hurley, Laura Gardiner and Tanya Kennedy collecting 41 contested possessions between them in their last outing.
