Geelong has navigated tricky conditions to register a strong win on Sunday afternoon, holding on to defeat the Western Bulldogs by 11 points at a sodden Mars Stadium in Ballarat.
Understanding the importance of a strong start, the Cats kicked three goals inside the opening five minutes of the game and kept the Bulldogs at an arm's length for much of the afternoon, withstanding a late challenge to secure the four points.
On a significant afternoon for the Cats' longest-serving skipper, Meg McDonald was immense across half back collecting 10 disposals and eight intercept possessions to cap off her milestone 75th AFLW game.
Georgie Prespakis (25 disposals, six clearances) was once again among the best players on the ground, while Mikayla Bowen (18 disposals, seven tackles) and Nina Morrison (15 disposals, 15 tackles) were important around contests.
Geelong could not have dreamed of a better start, piling on three goals inside the opening five minutes of the game, Becky Webster sneaking forward to kick her first goal since Round 10 of the 2023 season.
The match turned into an arm wrestle but the Bulldogs managed to steady, the Cats taking a 10-point lead into the first break behind a stellar effort from Georgie Prespakis, who collected eight disposals and four clearances in the first quarter alone.
Although the conditions did not dry up in the second term, the scoring did with Kate Surman kicking the only goal in the quarter, extending Geelong's lead to 15 points at half-time.
Few players were more impactful than Meg McDonald up until the main break, picking off an equal game-high five intercept possessions and taking three marks to help restrict the Bulldogs to one goal in the first half.
Nina Morrison (eight disposals, seven tackles) was tough through the middle of the ground, while Emma Kilpatrick (three intercepts, 83% disposal efficiency) also had a big influence across half-back.
The tough contest continued after half time and it took 11 minutes for either side to register a score, but importantly for the Cats it was Chantal Mason who broke the deadlock and put Geelong further in front.
A late goal pulled the Bulldogs back within striking distance, but the Cats maintained their healthy 15-point advantage heading into the final term.
Geelong had to withstand a late challenge from the Bulldogs in a tense final quarter, but managed to hold their opponents to one goal from 12 inside-50 entries, with Aishling Moloney toe-poking through a late goal to close out the victory.
2025 AFLW Season - Round 11
WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.2 1.4 2.4 3.8 (26)
GEELONG CATS 3.0 4.1 5.1 6.1 (37)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Wilcox, McDonald, Fitzgerald 1
Geelong Cats: Webster, Surman, A.McDonald, Mason, Kenny, Moloney 1
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Bennetts, Wilcox, McDonald, Gavalas, Fitzgerald
Geelong Cats: Prespakis, A.McDonald, Morrison, Bowen, Moloney
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Geelong Cats: Nil
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 1332 at Mars Stadium
