A FINAL-MINUTE goal from Georgie Prespakis has seen Geelong squeak over the line against Richmond, winning by four points at GMHBA Stadium.

Cats forward-turned-defender Claudia Gunjaca took two strong intercept marks in the last minutes as Richmond attempted to clear the ball, before Prespakis was the beneficiary of a downfield free kick, which she duly converted from about 35m.

Geelong had booted eight goals in its practice match win over Gold Coast, with Richmond piling on eight itself against Hawthorn, but scoring was few and far between in the torrid 2.3 (15) to 1.5 (11) result.

Round 1 Showreel

  • 00:51

    Thankyou Maddy McMahon | AFLW

    Cats AFLW stalwart Maddy McMahon has announced her retirement and in doing so leaves a legacy behind as an inaugural member of the Cats 2019 AFLW team. Go well Maddy.

    AFLW
  • 03:02

    Moments of the Match AFLW Highlights | Round 1

    Watch some of the key moments from Geelong's narrow win over the Tigers in Round 1

    AFLW
    aflw
  • 01:42

    Prespakis Post Game | Round 1

    Georgie Prespakis speaks to Cats media after her two goal, game winning effort against the Tigers in Round 1. Proudly Presented by Ford Australia.

    AFLW
    aflw
  • 04:57

    AFLW Match Highlights | Round 1

    Watch the highlights from Geelong's Round 1 clash with Richmond at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday.

    AFLW
    aflw
  • 00:59

    Jumper Presentation | AFLW Round 1

    Watch the moment that Mikayla Bowen, Shelley Scott, Jackie Parry and Mia Skinner received their jumpers ahead of Geelong's Round 1 clash with Richmond.

    AFLW
    aflw
  • 03:37

    Lowther Post-Game | AFLW Round 1

    Hear from senior coach Dan Lowther following Geelong's Round 1 clash with Richmond at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday. Presented by Viva Energy.

    AFLW
    aflw
  • 00:54

    Prespakis rises to the occasion with clutch late goal

    Georgie Prespakis steps up in the final minute of Geelong's Round 1 clash with Richmond to kick the match winning goal.

    AFLW
    aflw
  • 00:46

    Perfect Prespakis snap pulls Geelong right back

    Georgie Prespakis kicks the first goal of her AFLW career with this superb snap

    AFLW
    aflw
  • 00:59

    Kearns subbed out

    A big blow for Geelong with Rachel Kearns leaving the field after this incident in the first quarter of the Round 1 clash with Richmond at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday.

    AFLW
    aflw
  • 04:28

    New Additions to Geelong | Round 1

    Watch as a new addition is welcomed to the Geelong list and 4 debutants are named for Round one of the season.

    AFLW
  • 10:19

    Lowther Press Conference | Round 1

    Dan Lowther speaks to the media ahead of AFLW Round 1 at GMHBA Stadium. Proudly Presented by Viva Energy.

    AFLW
  • 01:41

    Season 7 Starts Now | AFLW

    Our Geelong Cat's AFLW team is about to embark on season 7, enjoy the ride.

    AFLW
    aflw
  • 02:56

    Becky Webster Press Conference | Round 1

    Becky Webster speaks to the media ahead of Geelong AFLW's Round 1 game against the Tigers. Proudly Presented by Ford Australia.

    AFLW
    aflw
  • 05:34

    Amy McDonald Press Conference | AFLW Pre Season

    Midfielder Amy McDonald speaks to the media after the Cats first match of the pre season against the Suns. Proudly Presented by Ford Australia.

    AFLW
    aflw
  • 02:17

    AFLW Season 7 Player Leadership Announcement

    Dan Lowther brings the AFLW team together to announce our leadership group for season 7. Proudly Presented by Ford Australia and Deakin University.

    AFLW
    aflw
  • 03:09

    Fuller Mic'd Up | AFLW Photo Day

    Liv Fuller roams the rooms on team photo day for season 7 of the AFLW. Proudly Presented by Ford Australia and Deakin University.

    AFLW
    aflw
  • 03:39

    Scheer Interview | AFLW Pre Season

    Chloe Scheer chats to Cats Media during Geelong's AFLW Pre season period, as the first practice match comes up soon. Proudly Presented by Ford Australia.

    AFLW

The Tigers had their opportunities to build a sizeable lead in the second term, but booted four straight behinds from set shots, two from Courtney Wakefield, one from Sarah Hosking and a fourth from Emelia Yassir.

Tireless Geelong midfielder Amy McDonald picked up where she left off last season, recording 10 disposals in the first quarter, but did not have another till the opening minute of the third term. She finished with 24 and seven clearances.

CATS v TIGERS Full match coverage and stats

Unsurprisingly, the Cats dominated play in the premiership quarter off the back of McDonald's work in the centre and skipper Meg McDonald patrolling the backline.

Usual forward Chloe Scheer had started the second half in the middle, and it seemed to unlock something for the Cats, with Prespakis delivering a low bouncing goal for the Cats' first.

The midfield battle looks set to be a mighty one for the next five years – Ellie McKenzie, Monique Conti, Sarah Hosking and Grace Egan up against Prespakis, Nina Morrison, McDonald, Julia Crockett-Grills and Mikayla Bowen, and there were plenty of individual highlights from some of the stars of the competition.

But both teams will want to work on their entries inside 50 after struggling to deliver the ball cleanly in the face of two strong defences.

Kearns injured

Geelong hardnut Rachel Kearns suffered a serious left AC joint injury after a Beth Lynch tackle in the first quarter. With Kearns needing the green whistle (a type of strong pain relief) while on the ground.

00:59

Kearns subbed out

A big blow for Geelong with Rachel Kearns leaving the field after this incident in the first quarter of the Round 1 clash with Richmond at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday.

Up next

Richmond hosts Adelaide at the Swinburne Centre in the first ever meeting between the pair, while Geelong travels west to take on Fremantle on its home deck.

GEELONG        0.1     0.2     1.2     2.3  (15)
RICHMOND     1.0     1.4     1.4     1.5  (11)

GOALS
Geelong: Prespakis 2
Richmond: Seymour

BEST 
Geelong: McDonald, Prespakis, McDonald, Morrison
Richmond: Conti, McKenzie, Sheerin, S.Hosking

INJURIES 
Geelong: Kearns (left shoulder)
Richmond: Nil 

Reports: Nil