GEELONG will travel up the highway on Sunday to play Carlton in their Round 6 AFLW clash Ikon Park.

The Cats’ VFLW team played their first game of the season going down to Collingwood by two points.

Despite the defeat there were some encouraging signs from Geelong’s AFLW contingent in action.

We take a look at how they went and who could be in the mix to play Carlton.

Olivia Barber (3 goals, 14 disposals)

Barber staked her claim for an instant recall to Geelong’s AFLW team kicking 3.1 in the loss to Collingwood on Saturday.

The 18-year-old presented well finishing with 14 disposals and four marks

“Liv (Barber) gives you a contest in everything that she does, she’s a fantastic player to have in your side and it’s hopefully great for her confidence that she scored some goals and got a bit of reward for her hard work,” VFLW Coach Andrew Bruce said post-game.

“I thought her contests in the air were good and even when she went into the ruck at different times, she certainly got over the top of the Collingwood rucks and played the game out really strong.”

Rene Caris (18 disposals, 26 hitouts)

Caris showed her athleticism as she competed well across the ground in the ruck finishing with 26 hitouts and 18 disposals.

The 21-year-old was named best-on-ground and will come under strong consideration this week.

Her performance drew praise from Bruce post-game.

“I thought Rene Caris was outstanding all day in the ruck. Not only her tap work, but also her second and third efforts at ground level were fantastic and she just ran the game out really well,” he said.

Darcy Moloney (18 disposals, 5 tackles)

With Olivia Purcell set for a stint on the sidelines with a knee injury the Cats are likely to consider another onballer to play the Blues and that player could very well be Geelong Falcon junior Darcy Moloney.

Moloney won plenty of the ball on the weekend and pushed forward to hit the scoreboard.

If named in the team on Saturday, Moloney will play her first AFLW game since Round 2.

Laura Gardiner (17 disposals, 4 clearances)

The other midfielder in the mix to replace Purcell could be Gardiner. The lightly built midfielder won 17 disposals for the Cats to go with an equal team-high four clearances.

Gardiner's ability to win the football in close could give her the edge in the battle for selection this week and after being named in the best she will be right in the thinking of Geelong’s AFLW match committee.

Georgia Clarke (14 disposals, 2 goals)

Clarke combined well with Barber in attack kicking two goals from 14 disposals. Was also used at the other end of the ground finishing with a team-high four rebound 50s.

Others

Carly Remmos and Mia Skinner finished with 10 disposals apiece on the weekend. While Madison Maguire (concussion) and Nina Morrison (knee) remain in doubt after missing the game on Sunday.