“Proud”: AFLW Cats look ahead to next year

GEELONG AFLW coach Dan Lowther has commended his squad for its historic season, following the Cats’ narrow defeat in last weekend’s Preliminary Final.

The Cats’ most successful AFLW campaign came to a close on Saturday night, going down by four points in Brisbane to the Lions, 6.2 (38) to 5.4 (34).

“I’m proud to start with, frustrated, but more immensely proud with the way the girls travelled, prepared during a great month of footy – probably five weeks, to be fair, of a really good Geelong brand of footy,” Lowther said post-game.

“They’re disappointed, real disappointed, but it’s good to see the girls looking froward to putting it behind them and moving into a pre-preseason knowing we’re challenging the teams above us, which is what we’re after.”

The Cats uncharacteristically struggled early against Brisbane.

Brisbane held Geelong goalless in the opening term before the Cats fought back with three majors in the second quarter.

Shannon Campbell’s lone major in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference for the Lions, as the Season 6 premiers held on to win by less than a goal.

Georgie Prespakis and Nina Morrison capped off their All-Australian-calibre seasons with 21 and 20 disposals apiece, while Jacqueline Parry was the Cats’ only multiple goalkicker with two.

Geelong’s loss also marked the end of the career of one of its inaugural players, as Renee Garing called time on her time in the AFLW.

“She’s the ultimate professional,” Lowther said.

“It was really sad to see her go off the way she did, because I think she’s only getting better the more she plays, and she’d say the same thing.

“Her legacy is that she set a standard and she’s left a standard for the rest of the players to look up to, she’ll be around [moving forward] no doubt.

“Again, tonight, she was outstanding with her tackle pressure, that’s what we need and that’s what the competition needs, players playing their roles and Renee is the ultimate role player.”

Brisbane will face North Melbourne this Sunday, December 3 in this year’s AFLW decider.