Cats are back: Geelong’s AFLW side to make 2021 season debut at home

FOOTY is back at Kardinia Park for 2021, and the Geelong Cats’ AFLW side will make its debut at home this Sunday (January 31).

The Cats will play North Melbourne in the season opener at GMHBA Stadium but the match has been brought forward slightly, and will now begin at the new time of 12.10pm instead of 3.10pm.

Tickets went on sale on Monday this week and must be pre-purchased.

The change to Sunday’s game came after the AFL advised all clubs last week that the fixture for the first two rounds of the 2021 NAB AFL Women’s Competition had been amended to allow the season to start in the safest way possible with existing border restrictions in place across the country.

Geelong’s round 2 match is unchanged, with the Cats to travel to Hickey Park to take on the Brisbane Lions on February 7 at 2.10pm as part of the AFLW’s inaugural Pride Round.

AFL head of women’s football Nicole Livingstone said the revised fixture provided the competition with maximum flexibility while ensuring the least disruption for everyone involved in the game.

“We’re really looking forward to the season kicking off with the scheduled Carlton and Collingwood match at Ikon Park, and there is so much to look forward to from that opening night right through to the NAB AFLW Grand Final.”

Coming games at GMHBA Stadium include the Cats’ men’s side playing a practice match against Essendon on February 18, followed by Geelong’s AFLW games against GWS Giants on February 19, against Collingwood on February 27 and against Carlton on March 20.

The Cats will be led out on Sunday by new captain Meghan McDonald.

The Cats’ second captain in AFLW history takes up the mantle from Melissa Hickey, who retired at the end of the 2020 season.

McDonald arrived at GMHBA Stadium in 2018 after four games of AFLW at the Western Bulldogs in 2017.

The 28-year-old was a member of the Darebin Falcons’ premiership sides of 2016 and 2017 and enjoyed a standout year in the VFLW in 2018.

The All-Australian defender made history by winning Geelong’s inaugural best and fairest award in 2019. McDonald has played 12 games in the blue and white hoops across the club’s first two seasons in the AFLW competition.

She will be supported by the 2021 player leadership group, who will lead the team and drive performance. Jordan Ivey has been named vice-captain, along with existing members Renee Garing and Aasta O’Connor and new members Maddy Keryk and Nina Morrison.

For more information on Sunday’s match, head to kardiniapark.vic.gov.au/event/geelong-cats-vs-north-melbourne. For tickets, head to ticketmaster.com.au.