Geelong’s VFLW side have recorded their highest score of the season, defeating the Casey Demons 10.8 (68) to 4.3 (27) at Queens Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Cats dominated the majority of play in the first quarter but were unable to fully capitalise on their opportunities, with just two points separating the two sides at the first break.

But it was a three goal second term that cemented Geelong’s lead with majors to Rocky Cranston, Maddie Boyd and Kate Darby opening up a 14 point margin at half time.

Impressive contested football allowed the Cats to keep Casey goalless in the third quarter and further assert their authority on the game, establishing a 28 point lead at three-quarter time.

A goal within the opening two minutes of the final quarter to Hayley Trevean provided the Cats with the spark to finish their dominate display, with Danielle Orr, Mia-Rae Clifford and Maighan Fogas also kicking last quarter goals in Geelong’s 41 point victory.

Geelong VFLW coach Paul Hood was pleased with his side’s efforts around the ball throughout the day, but also admitted that there is room for improvement despite the impressive scoreline.

“Our contested work was terrific and the girls got back around the footy and won the hard balls all day which we were really pleased with,” he said.

“We probably missed a few opportunities to score, we’d like to get a little bit better in the attacking end and we probably gave up a couple of goals that we’d like to stop too.

“But thinking on that, not being satisfied with a 10-goal performance, that’s a big step for our team. We’ve raised the bar a little bit and we’re happy with the win but know we can still improve.”

Hood praised the composure of skipper Bec Goring in the backline, naming her among the Cats’ best players.

“We really liked the game of Bec’s down back today. Her intercept marking was terrific along with her ability to set up her teammates and she lead from the front,” he said.

It was the efforts of players across the ground that saw Geelong claim their seventh win of the season.

“Maddy Keryk in the midfield was terrific, really clean and made good decisions with the ball. A lot of our work in and under goes unnoticed but it certainly stood out today,” Hood said.

“We were also really pleased with Jordan Ivey, who worked really hard and helped spark the attack.

“Elise Coventry had a terrific game down back and Richelle Cranston’s always there and about. She’s just so devastating when she takes the ball forward.

“You could say lots of really good things about the whole team and that’s really pleasing, one of those days with no passengers and everyone contributes to the team.”

The win has maintained a six point buffer between the Cats, who sit in fourth place on the ladder, and the next closest sides, with just five rounds left in the home-and-away season and only the top four sides playing finals.

Hood said that the possible reality of playing finals football has started to sink in, but his side will focus on each game week-to-week.

“It’s getting to that point of year where you start to think about what the ladder positions mean, so to get another four points was really handy,” he said.

“We want to win every week, if we do that it (playing finals football) will take care of itself. There’s no point ignoring it, everyone knows that they’re there, but we’ve got to worry about what’s in front of us first and if we do that we’ll be good enough to play finals footy.”

The Cats now enjoy a bye before facing their final four home-and-away games of the season.


VFL Women’s Round 11
Geelong Cats 10.8 (68) defeated Casey Demons 4.3 (27)
Goals: Orr 2, Boyd 2, Darby 2, Clifford, Fogas, Cranston, Trevean
Best: Keryk, Goring, Ivey, Coventry, Cranston, Fogas
Injuries: Ramsay (Hand)
Reports: Nil
@ Queens Park