GEELONG'S No.1 draft pick Nina Morrison has become an instant hometown hero, kicking the winning behind as the Cats beat Collingwood by just one point in their first AFLW match.

The match was on tenterhooks for the final few minutes after Morrison missed a set shot, but the Cats prevailed to win 3.6 (24) to 3.5 (23) at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday night.

It means the Pies are yet to win a first-round match, after losing both season-openers to Carlton in 2017 and 2018.

Sophie Alexander was a revelation up forward for Collingwood. Promoted from the club's VFLW team, the 25-year-old kicked the opening goal of the match, a 45-metre set shot. She also kicked two behinds in the opening term.

But Alexander's night ended early after a collision with teammate Sharni Layton when a stray arm collected her in the head. She was taken from the ground on a stretcher.

Collingwood missed the target she presented up forward, with a scoreless last term.

Geelong local Maddy Boyd, who top-scored on a historic night for the club, is now at her third AFLW club having played for Melbourne and GWS.

In nine games she was yet to kick a goal, but the 25-year-old will go down in the record books as the first Geelong player to kick an AFLW goal, courtesy of a 50-metre penalty given away by former Australian netball captain Sharni Layton for infringing the protected area.

After a slow start, the Cats sprang to life in the second term, former Dee Mia-Rae Clifford's hard running and pressure work rewarded with a goal, followed by Boyd's second.

Tough Collingwood midfielder Jaimee Lambert had an eventful third term, leaving the ground with what looked like a nasty right ankle injury before returning to kick a goal through a one-two with Sarah D'Arcy.

Geelong key forward Phoebe McWilliams was a late scratching with a hamstring complaint, replaced in the selected side by Georgie Rankin, and the Cats initially missed her presence up forward.

GEELONG   1.2 3.2 3.4 3.6 (24)
COLLINGWOOD   1.3 1.3 3.5 3.5 (23)

GOALS
Geelong: Boyd 2, Clifford
Collingwood: Alexander, D'Arcy, Lambert

BEST 
Geelong: Morrison, McDonald, Boyd, Garing, Purcell
Collingwood: Lambert, Brazill, Bonnici, Alexander, Grant

INJURIES 
Geelong: McWilliams (hamstring, replaced in selected side by Rankin)
Collingwood: Alexander (concussion), Lambert (right ankle)

Reports: Nil

Crowd: 18,429 at GMHBA Stadium