The VFLW Bendigo Bank Cats have won their first game of the season in a dominant display against Williamstown at Deakin University Elite Sports Precinct on Saturday afternoon.

Geelong kept the visitors scoreless for two quarters in the 7.10 (52) to 2.0 (12) victory.

Steph Williams got the Cats off to the perfect start with a goal early in the first quarter. The 2020 AFLW draftee was lively in the forward line, providing a handball assist to Jaime Woollett in the latter's 50th VFLW game shortly after to extend Geelong’s lead. Williamstown kicked its first goal late in the quarter, but it was the Cats who controlled much of the play to lead by eight points at the first break.

Geelong was down a rotation early in the match after losing ruck Olivia Fuller to injury, but the Cats continued to dominate play. Vice-captain Claudia Gunjaca played an important role in the forward line and kicked the first goal of the second quarter, before Georgia Clarke extended Geelong’s lead to 21 points at half-time.

Williams kicked her second goal late in the third quarter much to the delight of the home crowd, as Geelong took a five-goal buffer into the final term.

The Cats continued to play with confidence in the fourth quarter, as skipper Michelle Fedele kicked her first goal of the season to seal the result. Sarah Elsworthy added her name to the scoreboard late in the match, before Williamstown kicked its second goal of the game right before the final siren.

Geelong VFLW coach Andrew Bruce was thrilled with his side’s performance in the 40-point victory.

“I’m feeling so happy for the girls that they got the reward they really deserved,” Bruce said.

“I was most happy with just the effort from the whole group. We lost Liv Fuller really early in the game, who had started fantastically well in the ruck for us, so we were down a rotation very early.

“Madisen Maguire coming back from injury had limited game time, so by halfway through the third we were down to three rotations and the girls just fought and played our style of footy which was great.”

Bruce was also pleased with the effort from the backline throughout the game to restrict Williamstown’s scoring.

“Our back group played so well. They cut off so much footy coming in and were really smart with their positioning and then subsequently using the footy,” Bruce said.

“A lot of the time it became a bit of the scrap but we were the ones who were always getting that extra number and working hard and making it go our way, so really pleased with how our backs performed for the day.”

Claudia Gunjaca proved to be instrumental in the forward line and was named as Geelong’s best player.

“I thought Claudia was absolutely amazing in relation to how many contests she gave in the forward line,” Bruce said.

“With us losing a ruck, it meant that she was our target a lot more than what we’d thought going in, but she gave us a super target, took some marks, got some score and her ground efforts were great.”

There were standout players across the ground for the Cats.

“I thought our mids worked really hard. We were probably outsized to a degree but we certainly won out through that midfield,” Bruce said.

“Georgia Clarke was really good on a wing. Again, we asked her to be really strong in the contest and she was and her work rate up and down the ground was fantastic. She got a lot of the footy and really impacted well for us.

“Breanna Pratt as a defender was super as well, and Theresia Meissner was also fantastic again this week.

“Steph (Williams) also had a really good game. Her pace was fantastic when she got the footy and I thought her decision making was really good.”

Geelong’s round three opponent will be announced in the coming week.

VFL Women’s Round Two

Geelong Cats 7.10 (52) def Williamstown 2.0 (12)

Goals: Williams (2), Clarke, Elsworthy, Fedele, Gunjaca, Woollett

Best: Gunjaca, Clarke, Pratt, Sheppard, Meissner, Smith

Injuries: Fuller (back)

At Deakin University Elite Sports Precinct