AFLW Cats miss the mark again in seesawing season

GEELONG have missed out on the AFLW finals for the second consecutive year after another disappointing campaign.

The Cats endured a seesawing season that included some emphatic moments, ultimately finishing 13th – one game and significant percentage outside the eight.

An 0-3 start put Dan Lowther’s group behind the eight ball early, with two of those losses coming against proven sides in North Melbourne and Adelaide.

The three-game stretch following this against Essendon, Richmond and Port Adelaide all resulted in solid wins and it seemed as if things were turning around coming into the right time of the year.

However, Geelong went 2-4 to finish the season, with all four losses coming against finals-bound sides who looked a class above, including Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday.

Defence was a glaring issue in the Cats’ all year, with the team conceding at least 42 points in each of their seven losses, which proved too much to come back from.

Midfielder Georgie Prespakis took her game to another level in her third year and fifth season, averaging 25.8 disposals, 6.8 clearances and 5.9 tackles a game.

Small forward Mikayla Bowen had arguably her best season as a Cat, averaging 21.6 touches and 6.7 tackles a game, while Nina Morrison showed class all year to average 20.3 disposals and 7.7 tackles.

Aishling Moloney led Geelong’s goalkickers with 17, whilst Jacqueline Parry added 11 of her own.

The Cats will look to a new leader in 2026 after skipper Megan McDonald called time on her career after 76 games. McDonald has been a rock down back since joining Geelong in 2019 and leads the club in games played.

Kate Darby and Shelley Scott will also hang the boots up after 59 and 77 AFLW games respectively.

Geelong will go back to the drawing board in the offseason and look to reach the heights of their 2023 campaign in 2026.