The Cats will be heading interstate for their final game of the 2021 NAB AFL Women’s season, taking on the Gold Coast Suns in Queensland.

Both teams are chasing their first win and will be eager to end the season on a strong note. The Cats are coming off an encouraging performance against Greater Western Sydney, while the Suns suffered a 10-goal loss to Carlton.

The Details

Gold Cost Suns v Geelong
Saturday, 27 March at 4.10pm (5.10pm AEDT)
Metricon Stadium, QLD

Last Time They Met

Gold Coast 2.6 (18) def. by Geelong Cats 5.8 (38)
Great Barrier Reef Arena
Round 5, 2020

A big second half saw the Cats turn a six-point deficit at the main break into a 20-point win.

Nina Morrison was brilliant with 22 disposals and seven tackles, while Olivia Purcell (21 disposals) and Rocky Cranston (18 disposals and one goal) were also among the best.

Phoebe McWilliams kicked two goals, while the Cats’ defence locked down to concede just two behinds in the second half.

Cats to Keep Your Eye On

We all know the brilliant seasons Amy McDonald, Meg McDonald and Becky Webster have been having, and the effort Julia Crockett-Grills puts in each week.

But last week saw Maddy McMahon produce her best performance for the season – a brilliant effort in defence as she notched up 13 disposals, six tackles, six marks and nine intercepts.

Young Cats Laura Gardiner and Liv Barber also impressed. Playing just her second game, Gardiner laid 11 tackles, had 17 disposals, four clearances and three intercepts – earning her the Round 8 AFLW Fan MVP Award, presented by Viva Energy.

Barber continues to provide a spark of excitement up forward, and always shapes as a strong marking option – particularly after the excellent contested mark she took against the Giants.

The Key Points

1) Bring the energy:  The Cats didn’t get the four points last Saturday, but they produced their most consistent effort of the season. The Cats’ energy and pressure were high from the outset. They laid 68 tackles to the Giants’ 54 (up from the Cats’ season average of 54.9), and brought the heat inside 50 with 13 tackles in the forward arc.

If the Cats’ can produce the same effort against the Suns, it will hold them in good stead as they chase a maiden victory for 2021.

2) The scoring puzzle:  The one area that hurt the Cats last week was their scoring ability. The Cats had 23 inside 50s to the Giants’ 24, but took just two marks inside 50, four scoring shots and were operating at 30.4 per cent efficiency inside 50. The Cats will be be hoping they can make the most of their chances and finish their good work from up the field when they take on the Suns.

3) One last chance: There’s plenty riding on this one for both the Cats and the Suns. Neither side has won a game yet in 2021, and will be desperate to finish with a victory. The Cats are taking better form into the contest, but the Suns will have the advantage of a home ground and home crowd to try to get them across the line. Expect to see an all-out effort from both sides as they chase the four points.

How to Watch

If you wish to attend the game, you must pre-purchase a ticket. As this match is part of a double-header with the AFL match between Gold Coast and North Melbourne, double-header tickets must be purchased through Ticketek, granting fans access to both games held at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.

If you’re watching from home, the game be shown live on subscription TV on Fox Sports 3, and can also be streamed on Kayo with a subscription, as well as womens.afl and the official AFLW App.

Follow the @catswomens on Twitter and Instagram for updates throughout the game.