Geelong has fallen agonisingly short if its first win in the 2022 AFLW season, going down by just two points to reigning premier Brisbane on Saturday.
Making their first interstate trip for the season, the Cats headed up to Maroochydore still looking for a win after three defeats to start the season.
They had their work cut for them, with the Lions piling on the pressure until the Cats made a late charge in the final quarter of the 3.9 (27) to 4.1 (25) loss.
New Cat Chantel Emonson kicked her first goal in the hoops in the opening quarter to give Geelong a positive start and a four-point lead at quarter time.
But it was in the second quarter when the Lions began to take control of the game and continuously put the ball into their forward 50.
Cats skipper Meg McDonald and Maddy McMahon were brilliant in defence and absorbed the pressure, regularly intercepting and spoiling marks, which denied the Lions the hance to pile on the goals from their 38 inside 50s.
The Cats were able to keep the Lions to just two goals and seven behinds by three quarter time, but the pressure meant the Cats had added just one further goal themselves.
The game looked like it could be out of reach when the Lions kicked the first goal of the final quarter to go 13 points ahead, but it provide a turning point for the Cats.
Geelong kicked the next two goals, both through Chloe Scheer, to get back within a goal of the lead.
With the rain falling heavily late, Scheer had a shot to kick her fourth goals of the game but missed as the Lions were able to hold on.
Cats coach Dan Lowther said while it was disappointing to not get the victory, he was proud of the team’s effort.
“We said pre-game it was going to be an arm wrestle … and that’s what we got from start to finish,” he said.
[We were] smashed in clearances and inside 50s [and that] didn’t help us to keep the ball in our front half to give us the chance to score.
“But [I’m] really proud of the girls’ efforts to show a bit of grit … to get us back into the game in the last quarter [and put us] in a position where we actually could have won the game.
“That’s really pleasing.”
Lowther said the defensive efforts of McDonald, McMahon, Maddy Keryk, Georgie Rankin and Gabbi Featherston were outstanding.
“I’m really proud of our defence, I think our defence has held up for the first four rounds really strong, and particularly [on Saturday] against a really dynamic forward half,” he said.
“We just need to make sure we capitalise on getting the ball forward and scoring.”
The Cats’ attention will now shift to Friday night, when they host West Coast at GMHBA Stadium the round five marquee match.
Lowther said the team was looking forward to getting back out onto the field.
“We’re a pretty process driven group so … it hurts to lose another one – all of the players on our list are hurting now to lose not just four, but obviously last year was quite difficult as well,” he said.
“We’ll stick to the process and make sure whatever opposition we play from week to week, we’ll play our way.
“I think we’re making strides but again it’s about making sure we get the process right at the right time.
“They’re a motivated group [to get a win].”
