Geelong has held on to claim an important victory over Port Adelaide on Saturday afternoon, prevailing by five-points in a nail-biter at Alberton Oval. 

A dominant start put the Cats ahead early, but they had to withstand numerous comeback efforts from the Power, a late goal to Mikayla Bowen proving to be the difference. 

It is a third consecutive victory for Geelong who have bounced back strongly after a slow start to the season, jumping into the top eight for the first time this year. 

Mikayla Bowen (25 disposals, nine tackles) continued her magnificent start to the campaign, while Nina Morrison (18 disposals, two goals) impressed once again with another strong display. 

Georgie Prespakis (24 disposals, seven score involvements) was heavily influential, while Jackie Parry (19 disposals, eight score involvements) made the most of her opportunities up forward. 

The Cats dominated the opening quarter but perhaps did not quite get reward for effort, holding Port Adelaide scoreless and taking a 10 point lead into the first break. 

Geelong led nearly every major statistical category including disposals (+21), inside 50s (+5) and contested possessions (+10), with Mikayla Bowen collecting nine disposals to continue her incredible start to the season.

Despite the hot start, momentum shifted in a big way during the second term with Port Adelaide slamming through four goals to two, the Cats trailing by one point at half time. 

Around the ground the Cats continued to control most of the game, but Port Adelaide's midfield started to get on top lead by star ruck Matilda Scholz, despite the best efforts of Georgie Prespakis (13 disposals, four clearances). 

Julia Crockett-Grills (11 disposals) registered a game-high five score involvements in the opening half, while Claudia Gunjaca and Georgie Rankin collected eight intercept possessions between them to help limit the damage defensively. 

The weather turned in the third term and conditions became increasingly difficult, but the Cats were able to retake the lead on the back of Nina Morrison's second goal of the game.  

Sienna Tallariti showed plenty of composure and skill across half back, collecting six disposals and a pair of intercept possessions in the third term, continuing to impress in just the third game of her AFLW career.

Both teams traded blows in a tense final term, Aishling Moloney and Mikayla Bowen answering two goals from Port Adelaide's Indy Tahau, giving the Cats a one goal lead in the dying moments of the match. 

The Power had one final attempt to tie the game, but the kick fell short and Geelong rushed it through for a behind, the Cats holding on to record a thrilling victory. 

2025 AFLW Season - Round 6

PORT ADELAIDE    0.0     4.1     4.3    6.4    (40)
GEELONG CATS      1.4     3.6     4.8    6.9    (45)    

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Tahau 2, Scholz, Pope, Houghton, Goody 1
Geelong Cats: Morrison 2, Parry, Crockett-Grills, Bowen 1

BEST 
Port Adelaide: Scholz, Woodland, Tahau, Heads, Dowrick, Brooksby
Geelong: Bowen, Morrison, Prespakis, Parry, Crockett-Grills, McDonald

INJURIES 
Port Adelaide: Nil
Geelong: Kilpatrick (concussion), Crockett-Grills (hamstring)

Crowd: 2,736 at Alberton Oval