GEELONG has held off a surging Sydney to record a three-point win in warm conditions at Henson Park.

The Cats led at every change on Sunday before the Swans mounted a serious fourth-quarter challenge to reduce a game-high 21-point lead.

Lexi Hamilton's goal brought the Swans within four points late in the last quarter, but the Cats held on to win 5.14 (44) to 6.5 (41) in front of 3,127 fans at Henson Park.

Geelong's second victory of the year comes past the halfway mark of the 11-round season, having started the campaign with one win, four losses and a draw.

Georgie Prespakis (19 disposals, 13 contested possessions) starred alongside Julia Crocket-Grills and Jacqueline Parry.

Geelong brought the heat early against the Swans, kicking the opening three goals to build a 3.2 to 0.2 lead at the first change.

With the breeze behind them in the second term, Sydney finally found reward on the scoreboard when Irish import Paris McCarthy kicked three goals in seven minutes.

The Swans came alive in the last term, with goals from Bella Smith, Privitelli and Hamilton, but could not leap ahead.

The wind of change
A strong breeze blew across Henson Park for most of the afternoon and it proved to be pivotal, with 10 of the 11 goals kicked to the northern end of the ground. The only major against the breeze was a decisive one, with Aishling Moloney's goal for the Cats to start the fourth quarter the difference in the three-point win.

Up next
With their season still alive, the Cats face a daunting task against the impressive Tigers next Saturday afternoon.

SYDNEY    0.2   3.2   3.4    6.5 (41)
GEELONG   3.2   3.9   4.12    5.14 (44)

GOALS
Sydney: McCarthy 3, Smith, Privitelli, Hamilton
Geelong: A Moloney 2, Parry, D Moloney, Crockett-Grills

BEST
Sydney: Gardiner, McCarthy, Hurley, Kennedy
Geelong: Crockett-Grills, Prespakis, A Moloney, Webster, Parry

INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
Geelong: Nil

Reports: Nil

Crowd: 3,127 at Henson Park