They looked threatening across the first three weeks of the season, but the Cats broke through on Sunday afternoon to record their first victory of the 2025 AFLW season with a 31-point win over Essendon at Windy Hill.
Geelong dominated every facet of the game recording more disposals (+49), inside 50s (+23), centre clearances (+6), contested possessions (+28), and marks inside 50 (+15). They never trailed in the match and capitalised on their dominance after half-time, booting two goals in every quarter to keep the Bombers at bay.
Living up to its name, Windy Hill produced difficult conditions but it was not enough to stop Jackie Parry, who collected 19 disposals and kicked three goals in a brilliant display.
Georgie Prespakis was at her sensational best finishing with a game-high 33 disposals, seven clearances, eight intercept possessions and two goals to be one of the most damaging players on the ground.
In her first game as captain, Nina Morrison (28 disposals, nine tackles) was impressive, as were Mikayla Bowen (24 disposals, nine tackles) and Amy McDonald (24 disposals, six clearances).
Geelong drew first blood off the back of a brilliant passage of play, taking the ball from one end of the ground to the other and finishing with Jackie Parry, who accounted for the wind beautifully and nailed the opening goal of the game.
Nina Morrison added another moments later, with the Cats taking a healthy 11-point lead into the quarter-time break.
The difficult conditions were making scoring hard to come by but Aishling Moloney showed her brilliance, nailing a set shot to kick the opening goal of the second quarter inside the first 50 seconds.
Jackie Parry added a second major later in the quarter to extend Geelong's margin out to 19 points at the main break.
The Cats were dominant right across the ground recording 50 more disposals, 15 more inside-50 entries (23–8), 24 more contested possessions, and taking nine more marks inside 50 in a dominant opening half.
Mikayla Bowen was everywhere collecting 17 disposals and four score involvements; Jackie Parry amassed 11 disposals to go with her two goals, while superstars Georgie Prespakis (18 disposals, five score involvements) and Aishling Moloney (11 disposals, seven score involvements) were heavily influential.
Geelong continued to extend their lead after the main break, first through Georgie Prespakis, before Jackie Parry booted her third major with the margin swelling to 23 points heading into the final term.
Prespakis and Amy McDonald collected 18 disposals between them in the third quarter alone, while Rachel Kearns picked off five intercept possessions in the term to help repel a number of Essendon attacks.
The Cats certainly understood the importance of starting the fourth quarter well and Aishling Moloney stood tall in a big moment, kicking her second major of the day inside the opening minute of the term.
Georgie Prespakis put the cherry on top with a brilliant goal after the siren, closing out a dominant display and a 31 point victory for Geelong at Windy Hill, their first win of the season.
2025 AFLW Season - Round 4
ESSENDON 1.0 2.0 3.3 4.3 (27)
GEELONG 2.5 4.7 6.8 8.10 (58)
GOALS
Essendon: Gee 2, Belloni, Prespakis 1
Geelong: Parry 3, Moloney, Prespakis 2, Morrison 1
BEST
Essendon: M.Prespakis, Wales, Nanscawen, Gaylor
Geelong: McDonald, G.Prespakis, Bowen, Parry, Morrison, Moloney
INJURIES
Essendon: Walker (knee), Cain (knee)
Geelong: Nil
LATE CHANGES
Essendon: Nil
Geelong: Claudia Gunjaca (toe) replaced in selected side by Erica Fowler
Crowd: 2,359 @ Windy Hill
