Geelong’s VFLW side has recorded its biggest win of the season against Williamstown on Sunday afternoon at La Trobe University.

The Cats kept the Seagulls scoreless for three quarters in their commanding 8.4 (52) to 1.0 (6) victory.

Sophie Van De Heuvel kicked the opening goal of the game as Geelong controlled much of the play in the first quarter against a strong breeze. Williamstown levelled the scores as the two sides went into the quarter-time break with a goal apiece.

Geelong worked hard in the second quarter and a goal to Madisen Maguire saw the visitors edge out to a six-point lead at half-time.


The Cats came out firing in the third quarter and were rewarded for effort, as Rene Caris kicked two consecutive goals in a matter of minutes to build momentum.

Jaime Woollett delighted fans in the final quarter, snapping two near identical goals off her wrong foot. The floodgates well and truly opened for the Cats, as Tarryn Love and Denby Taylor added their names to the scorecard in Geelong’s 46-point victory.

Geelong VFLW coach Natalie Wood was pleased with her side’s dominant performance for much of the game.

“I think we started the game exceptionally well, I was really impressed with our first quarter,” Wood said.

“I would quite comfortably say that in our second quarter, we went away from being hard at the football and being precise.

“Nothing comes easy in the VFLW and Williamstown are a really proud and strong club. So I think that was a really big lesson that we learnt at half-time, that you actually have to work your way through each and every quarter.

“I think we played three really good quarters and the second quarter, we learned a lot from.”

Wood said that keeping Williamstown scoreless for three quarters, and managing to score into a strong wind, was a testament to her side’s belief.

“I think it can be a bit of a mindset that the wind is a strong advantage, but we’re a really strong running team and a really defence first team as well,” Wood said.

“So I was just keen to get the messaging in to the players’ mindset that they can score into this wind.

“I was really impressed when we got the first goal on the board of the game into the wind, and then in the third quarter to be able to get multiple goals.

“Sometimes we can say what our players are capable of and part of it is getting them to believe it, so we knew they could run and carry the ball with a lot of conviction and a lot of precision.”

Wood was thrilled with the efforts of the whole team in the convincing performance.

“It was a real team effort today. We had Anna Teague back in for her first game of the season, so it was great to see Teaguey really sort of own the backline, moving across and reading the play.

“Obviously with Melissa (Hickey) back for her second game as well, it’s just fantastic to be able to have players to come back in and be able to have that unity right from the start.”

“Sophie Van De Heuvel played just through the midfield today, so in a different role for her and they put a tag on her in the second half of the game. That’s a real reward as to how she was working.

“Becky Webster and Tarryn Love fought the fight for us in the middle a fair bit. They carried the load in terms of being that real hunter and helping to stop Williamstown’s movement.”

Geelong will face Carlton next Saturday in a double-header with the AFL in the final home-and-away game of the season.

VFL Women’s Round 15
Geelong Cats 8.4 (52) def Williamstown 1.0 (6)
Goals: Caris 2, Woollett 2, Love, Van De Heuvel, D. Taylor, Maguire
Best: Van De Heuvel, Love, Webster, D. Taylor, Woollett, Caris
Injuries: Nil
Reports: Nil
@ La Trobe University, Bundoora