Ash Bolt
Geelong has shown its on track to make improvements in the upcoming AFLW season, with a 23-point win over Richmond in its first practice match at the weekend.
With less than a month until the start of the season, Geelong showed the changes it had made to its game plan to lead from start to finish against the Tigers in warm conditions away from home on Saturday.
The Cats claimed the 6.12 (48) to 3.7 (25) on the back of three goals from veteran forward Phoebe McWilliams, who led a more potent forward line for the Cats.
Former number one draft pick Nina Morrison said the team had made obvious strides since last year.
“A big focus for us off the back of last year was to have that consistency across all four quarters,” she said.
“It was a really solid hit out to start with. A lot of stuff that we’ve improved on from last year, [we have] a lot of clarity around the way we want to play, but certainly [there is] lots to improve on as well.
“I think the girls are just really stoked to get into it. We’ll have some really clear things we need to work on over the next couple of weeks and I think we’ll all be pumped come round one against North.”
Morrison was playing her first game in almost two years after a second ACL injury in March 2020 and did not look out of place.
“It was awesome; it was good to get a proper run around,” she said.
“I feel like I’ve been ready to go for a while, so it was nice to actually get out there and play.
“The body is good. I started cramping up pretty badly late in the game, but it was good to have a proper hit out and I’ll be good to go round one.”
Improvements in the forward line were key to the Cats’ victory, with the team struggling to hit the scoreboard last season.
While the Cats were inaccurate in front of goals, Morrison said the team took positives out of its 18 scoring shots.
“A key focus coming into the year is to generate those scoring opportunities and keep the ball inside 50,” she said.
“I think we can clean up a few of those entries and make them easier shots at goal, but to have that many coming in is good signs going forward.”
The game started tight, with the Cats holding a small lead at half time, but turned up the pressure in the third quarter to kick away from the Tigers.
Along with the forward pressure, the Cats’ tackling intensity was also noticeable, with Morrison and new Cats Rachel Kearns and Georgie Prespakis showing a willingness to lay tackles.
The Cats kick off their season against North Melbourne at Arden Street on January 8.
