Geelong launched its 2020 AFLW season in style on Friday night at GMHBA Stadium.

Players and staff were joined by family, friends and supporters to welcome the Cats’ second AFLW season.

Geelong Cats Vice President Diana Taylor spoke of the pride that women’s football brings to the club after the team was announced.

“This AFLW Geelong Cats story engages our entire community. It’s the story that has grown our sport from the grassroots level at a phenomenal rate,” Taylor said.

“It’s a story that says that in the Geelong way, all are equal. And it’s also a story that says to every woman and girl in Geelong, and across Australia, that you are worthy and that you can do anything.

“We are so proud that our AFLW team does all this, writing our story wearing the navy and white hoops and playing here at our home at GMHBA Stadium.”

Senior coach Paul Hood was joined on stage by assistants Natalie Wood, Scott Thompson and Josh Finch to discuss the bold, attacking and exciting brand of football to be expected this season. According to Hood, Cats fans should be excited about the team’s confident mindset.

“We believe there’s no reason we can’t be better than the team we play against on any given day,” Hood said.

The 2020 leadership group of Melissa Hickey, Aasta O’Connor, Renee Garing and Jordan Ivey were next to discuss their eagerness for the season to begin and determination to improve on Geelong’s inaugural season. Vice-captain Meghan McDonald was absent after undergoing surgery on a fractured finger.

To close the evening, Geelong’s newest AFLW recruits Madisen Maguire, Amy McDonald, Nicole Garner, Mia Skinner and Millie Brown were welcomed on stage, each sharing their story of how they came to join the Cats.

Geelong will kick off its 2020 season next Sunday 9 February against Fremantle at Fremantle Oval.