Geelong’s VFLW side have recorded another impressive win, defeating Essendon 8.11 (59) to 2.2 (14) at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The wet conditions failed to deter the home side, with a goal to Hayley Trevean in the opening minutes of the first quarter allowing the Cats to control the match from the beginning. Two consecutive goals to Danielle Orr gave Geelong a 19 point lead at quarter time.
Geelong kept Essendon goalless in the opening half, as a goal to Mia-Rae Clifford late in the second quarter further stamped the Cats’ authority on the game, opening up a 27 point lead at the main break.
Heavy rain hit GMHBA Stadium in the third quarter in increasingly slippery conditions. The Cats continued to control the majority of the play but were unable to do the damage on the scoreboard, recording six behinds to Essendon’s one goal.
An impressive final quarter saw the Cats boot the last four majors of the game, with goals to Hannah Burchell, Mia-Rae Clifford, Maighan Fogas and Madeline Keryk cementing Geelong’s 45 point victory and fourth consecutive win.
Geelong VFLW coach Paul Hood was pleased with his side’s composure in the difficult conditions.
“It’s a great result and a really good win. Essendon fought really hard and the conditions made it tough to use the ball with any great precision, but we were very good around the contest for most of the game,” he said.
“The Bombers challenged us in the last quarter and it was really pleasing that we woke up, shook that off and finished it strongly with the last couple of goals.”
There were multiple standout players across the ground that helped the Cats secure victory.
“Hayley Trevean was outstanding today, she just had a really terrific game and contested and competed really hard across the game,” Hood said.
“Danielle Orr was also really good, she kicked a couple of goals up forward but was really lively throughout the four quarters.
“Mia-Rae Clifford had another really good game, Madeline Keryk fought really hard in the midfield along with Richelle Cranston and Anna Teague held a few attacks from the backline as well as starting some of our own.
“But overall it was a fairly even performance and again we feel that we’ve spread the work across the team.”
Hood was also impressed with the youngest players in the side, with Geelong Falcons duo Nina Morrison and Olivia Purcell both making their VFLW debuts and playing alongside Falcons teammate Zoe Inei, who played the number one ruck role in just her second game in the blue and white hoops.
“All three of them tried really hard and competed really well,” Hood said.
“It’s a challenge to start playing against adults for the first time and just figure out how exactly to use your body and where you need to run and do things differently, but they all worked their way through the game really well.”
A win next week against the Casey Demons will guarantee the Cats a spot in their first ever VFLW finals series, but Hood said that his side will remain focused on the game itself.
“Casey are always a challenge so at the moment we’ll just focus on beating them and if we do that the finals will look after themselves,” he said.
The Cats will face the Demons at Casey fields next Sunday in their round 15 clash.
VFL Women’s Round 14
Geelong Cats 8.11 (59) defeated Essendon Bombers 2.2 (14)
Goals: Clifford 2, Orr 2, Burchell, Fogas, Keryk, Trevean
Best: Trevean, Orr, Clifford, Cranston, Keryk, Teague
Injuries: Nil
Reports: Nil
@ GMHBA Stadium
