The VFLW Cats has fallen agonisingly short of claiming a big scalp on Saturday afternoon, going down to Sandringham by seven points in a nail-biter at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.
Geelong were dominant in the first half and lead for nearly the entire game, but a late turnaround saw the Zebras wrestle back the momentum at a crucial stage, the Cats only managing one goal after half time as Sandringham snatched the points late.
Abby Favell stood out with a game-high 23 disposals, six tackles and four clearances that inspired her team throughout the afternoon, along with Lily Jordan who finished with an impressive 15 disposals, eight tackles and four inside 50’s.
Hayley Peck continued her ruck dominance with a game-high 33 hit-outs, 15 disposals at 87% efficiency and six intercept possessions, again displaying her importance to the team around stoppages.
The match kicked off and scoring was hard to come by early, before Geelong broke through Sandringham’s defence and found their first goal through Steph O’Kane which boosted their momentum early.
Kiara Woods put through another major for the Cats as they took a 13 point lead into the first break, holding the Zebras scoreless in a strong opening quarter for Geelong.
Sandringham hit the scoreboard early in the second quarter but Geelong were able to keep their opposition at bay, maintaining their 13 point lead heading into the main break.
The Cats returned from half time and faced a significant shift in momentum, as Sandringham managed to narrow the gap to just five points heading into the final term.
Mekah Morrissy was an important player for Geelong collecting 15 disposals, six tackles and four intercepts prior to the last quarter, showcasing her brilliance right across the ground.
With less than a goal separating the two sides, the Cats put the pressure on Sandringham as they fought to retain their lead, but back-to-back majors for the Zebras put them in front for the first time in the entire match.
Steph O’Kane battled her way through their backline and found herself a crucial second goal to breathe life into the contest, but Sandringham found a quick reply late to close out the seven point victory.
2025 VFLW Season – Round 12
SANDRINGHAM 0.0 2.0 3.2 6.3 (39)
GEELONG CATS 2.1 4.1 4.1 5.2 (32)
GOALS
Sandringham: Locke 3, Patton, Downie, Bertuna 1
Geelong Cats: O'Kane 2, Woods, White, Favell 1
DISPOSALS
Sandringham: Hodder 18, Clarke 16, Locke, Downie 15
Geelong Cats: Favell 23, Morrissy 17, Peck, Jordan 15
@ Trevor Barker Beach Oval, Melbourne
