Cats to tackle Dockers in blockbuster clash

THE Geelong Cats head back down the highway to GMHBA Stadium this weekend for a season-defining Round 7 clash against Walyalup (Fremantle Dockers).

Now sitting at 3-3 on the season, and just inside the top eight, the Cats will need to find an extra gear if they are to try and inch closer to a finals berth tomorrow afternoon.

The Dockers, who are alongside five other teams on the 3-3 win-loss record logjam, are coming off a 45-point loss to the second-seeded Kangaroos and will be out to jump the Cats on the AFLW ladder with only four rounds remaining.

However, the Cats will be hoping to take a mental edge over the Dockers, having beaten them by 26 points in their last meeting in season seven of the AFLW.

19-year-old midfielder Zali Friswell will be playing her 25th game in the blue and white hoops this weekend and said the team was excited for the challenge.

“We turn our focus to the Dockers this weekend and to get the win would be pretty cool.

“We just want to connect across the three lines and across the four quarters this week. We’ve got a lot to learn, but there were also some moments in the Bombers game where we did really well.

“Personally, to have already played 25 games is pretty awesome.

“I’ve had plenty of ups and downs in my career. It’s been a lot of hard work and there’s still a bit to do.

“I’m pretty excited to be sharing the milestone with the girls this weekend at GMHBA Stadium.”

In round six, the Cats suffered a narrow loss to the Essendon Bombers by 10 points.

In her 25th league game, Georgie Prespakis led from the front, however her 26 possession game and 10 clearances was not enough to guide her team over the line.

Amy McDonald, Aishling Moloney and Julia Crockett-Grills were also named in the Cats best.

The Cats v Dockers clash begins at 3:05pm.

Tickets and more information is available via www.afl.com.au/aflw