The VFLW Bendigo Bank Cats have claimed a thrilling comeback win against the Southern Saints at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Saturday morning.

Geelong trailed the Saints by 11 points at three-quarter-time, before kicking four goals in the last seven minutes of the game to record the 6.10 (46) to 5.5 (35) victory.

The win makes it seven in a row for the Cats, who also move a game clear in second place on the ladder.

Windy conditions restricted scoring to one end of the ground for much of the game, as the Southern Saints kicked two opening quarter goals to establish an early lead.

Geelong dominated possession in the second term, as Olivia Barber kicked an early goal. The Cats couldn’t make the most of their opportunities however, managing eight behinds to lead by just four points at half-time.

The Southern Saints kept Geelong scoreless in the third quarter to wrestle back the lead, going into the final break with an 11-point margin.

Claudia Gunjaca’s move to the forward line provided instant reward early in the fourth quarter as she kicked an important goal for the Cats. The Southern Saints managed a quick reply however, pushing the margin back out to just under two goals.

With seven minutes left on the clock Rocky Cranston kicked a breakthrough goal, providing a spark for the Cats. Annabel Johnson and Georgia Clarke booted back-to-back majors to give Geelong a five-point lead, before Cranston extended the margin just before the siren in the thrilling win.

Geelong VFLW coach Andrew Bruce praised the way his side fought out the match.

“Being down with six minutes to go, a lot of teams wouldn’t have been thinking that they could score multiple goals at that point but the girls just kept hard at it,” Bruce said.

“They’d been pretty hard all day but just things hadn’t paid off, but to kick four goals in that time was just outstanding.

“I praised them as a group after the game about just their commitment to each other which was great.”

Greater Western Victoria Rebels NAB League product Chloe Leonard impressed in her debut for Geelong.

“In her first game at this level she was just fantastic. We love everything about Chloe and the way she goes about it and she makes some really good decisions,” Bruce said.

Tamara Smith and Sophie Van De Heuvel were among the other standout players for the Cats.

“Tamara was fantastic all day, playing as a small forward and then pushed up onto the wing a little bit,” Bruce said.

“Sophie was also really strong and we asked her to play some different roles today which she really embraced.”

Geelong will meet Carlton next Saturday at IKON Park in their Round 12 clash.

VFL Women’s Round 11

Geelong Cats 6.10 (46) def Southern Saints 5.5 (35)

Goals: Cranston 2, Barber, Gunjaca, Johnson, Clarke

Best: Smith, Van De Heuvel, Leonard, Beckley, Webster, Sheppard

Injuries: Nil

At Trevor Barker Beach Oval, Sandringham