Geelong's 2025 AFLW campaign has come to a end on Saturday night, falling to Melbourne by 14 points at GMHBA Stadium in the final round of the home and away season. 

After a competitive first half, Geelong could not match Melbourne's offensive prowess in the third term as they kicked away to an unassailable lead, the Cats closing the gap late but it ultimately was not enough.

The Geelong Football Club got the opportunity to farewell a trio of iconic players including long-serving skipper Meg McDonald (eight disposals), Kate Darby (six disposals, four tackles) and Shelley Scott, with all three announcing their retirement at the end of the 2025 season. 

Georgie Prespakis (32 disposals, eight clearances) and Mikayla Bowen (30 disposals, two goals) finished their incredible seasons with another pair of impressive performances, while Nina Morrison (19 disposals, two goals) did everything she could to lift her team throughout the night. 

The Cats manufactured plenty of scoring opportunities early and controlled plenty of the play around the ground, Aishling Moloney kicking the opening goal to give Geelong a narrow one point lead at quarter time. 

A telling factor in the first quarter was Geelong's pressure, laying 12 more tackles (22-10) than Melbourne to help restrict the Demons to just one goal from 12 inside-50 entries.

Moloney was influential early registering three score involvements in the opening term, while Becky Webster and Rachel Kearns were strong defensively, combining for six intercept possessions.

Both teams engaged in a fascinating battle during the second quarter, Nina Morrison kicked an extraordinary goal but Melbourne answered with two of their own, leaving the Cats four points adrift heading into the main break.

Georgie Prespakis continued her strong run of form collecting 16 disposals and four clearances in the first half, while Webster (13 disposals, six intercepts) and Morrison (10 disposals, five tackles) were among Geelong's best. 

Morrison hit the scoreboard once again in the third term, as did Mikayla Bowen but Melbourne were able to kick five goals of their own, extending the margin to 23 points heading into the final term.

The two teams traded goals in the last quarter, but Melbourne were able to do enough to run the clock out, the Cats falling by 14 points in their final game of the 2025 season.

2025 AFLW Season - Round 12

GEELONG CATS    1.3    2.5    4.6    6.9    (45)
MELBOURNE        1.2    3.3    8.5    9.5    (59)    

GOALS
Geelong Cats: Morrison, Bowen 2, Moloney, Mason 1
Melbourne: Zanker 4, Wotherspoon, Hore, Harris, Hanks, Gillard 1

BEST
Geelong Cats: Morrison, Prespakis, Kearns, Bowen, A. McDonald
Melbourne: Hanks, Harris, Zanker, Heath, Chaplin, Hore

INJURIES
Geelong Cats: Nil
Melbourne: Hore (head knock)

Crowd: 2,214 at GMHBA Stadium