Cats star Amy McDonald has credited a strong culture around the Geelong Football Club, as one of the main reasons driving their rapid ascension in the AFLW competition. 

At the start of 2022 just two seasons ago, the Cats managed just two wins during their ten game season before taking a huge leap to play finals football in the AFLW’s season seven. 

Geelong has taken another major step in their development during 2023, winning their first ever post season game against Essendon last Sunday to progress to the second week for the first time in their history. 

With a blockbuster Semi Final awaiting the Cats against the reigning premiers this Sunday, McDonald told media that the team has been consistently building together and are ready for their big moment. 

"I think we have an incredible culture down here,” McDonald said. 

“There is a lot of care and love within our group and the club as a whole.

"We always turn up to training and to games wanting to be better, not only for ourselves but for the people on the field around us. 

I think it is very hard to beat the culture down here, and we also have a really solid core group now that has been together for a few years.

I think people are starting to see what we have been putting in practice for the last couple of years, it is really coming to fruition and success is getting really close for us.”

Amy McDonald has pieced together another incredible season through the midfield averaging 24 disposals, six clearances, and seven tackles per game. 

The star on-baller is part of one of the strongest midfield groups in the AFLW, alongside Georgie Prespakis and Nina Morrison who have both been selected to the All-Australian squad in 2023. 

Geelong will enter the Semi Final this week in hot form, after three consecutive wins including their highest scoring half of the season in the Elimination Final against Essendon.