GEELONG has started its AFLW campaign with an eight-point loss to North Melbourne at Arden Street Oval on Saturday evening.

Despite the loss there was plenty to like about the new-look Cats which included six AFLW debutants with Georgie Prespakis, Rachel Kearns, Claudia Gunjaca, Liv Fuller, Annabel Johnson and Zali Friswell getting their first taste of senior football.

Fuller and Prespakis didn’t take long to get their hands on the football with both involved in the opening centre bounce, but it was North Melbourne who started the better of the two sides.

The Kangaroos led the inside 50 count 8-0 at one stage of the opening term as Geelong’s defensive group stood up well under the weight of possession by the Kangaroos who took an 8-0 lead into quarter time.

The Cats generated better scoring opportunities in the second term as Geelong's onballers started to get on top with reigning best and fairest Amy McDonald (20 disposals, 14 tackles), Prespakis (20 disposals, 7 clearances) and the returning Nina Morrison (14 disposals, 5 tackles) leading by example.

After a lopsided inside 50 count early the Cats cut the margin to 13-10 and in turn reduced the deficit to six points at half time.

Buoyed by some encouraging signs in the first half, the Cats came out firing at the start of the third term with their tackling pressure helping them get on top.

Rachel Kearns and Chloe Scheer registered minor scores before Phoebe McWilliams gave the Cats the lead with a tremendous mark on the lead and set shot from 35 metres out.

Moments later McWilliams laid a big tackle, and it inspired her teammates with Becky Webster getting a holding the ball decision moments later which led to a brilliant soccer finish from Julia Crockett-Grills to extend the Cats lead to 7 points with 8 minutes remaining in the third term.

A pause in play shortly followed as Chloe Scheer was left dazed after a nasty head clash with teammate Claudia Gunjaca.

A late goal to Daisy Bateman trimmed Geelong’s advantage to two-points at three-quarter time.

The Kangaroos won territory battle in the final term with Mia King and Kaitlyn Ashmore kicking majors as the Cats fell short of an opening round win, going down to the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos in front of 1852 people at Arden Street Oval.

Geelong will return to GMHBA Stadium in Round 2 to host the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.

From The Coach

"We came here to win today and show that we have improved and that our consistency around our style and method works against the best teams," coach Dan Lowther said post-game.

"The Kangaroos are one the best teams, there is no denying that, so to be in a winnable position at three-quarter-time and to let it slip is disappointing, but there were some really positive signs."

Round 1

NORTH MELBOURNE     1.2     1.2     2.2     4.2    (26) 
GEELONG                         0.0     0.2     2.4     2.6     (18) 

GOALS 
North Melbourne: Bruton, Bateman, M.King, Ashmore
Geelong: McWilliams, Crockett-Grills

BEST  
North Melbourne: Riddell, Garner, Bruton, Ashmore, Ferguson
Geelong: A.McDonald, Prespakis, Webster, Morrison, Keryk

INJURIES  
North Melbourne: Ashmore (ankle), Rennie (head knock)
Geelong: Scheer (head knock), M.McDonald (leg)

Crowd: 1,852 at Arden Street Oval