Cats still hunting for strong finish to 2024

GEELONG heads into its match against Brisbane this Sunday, October 20 with its season effectively over, but the group still has three clashes to show it can compete with the best sides in the AFLW.

The Cats go up against the reigning premiers in its return to GMHBA Stadium for the first time since October 1.

Dan Lowther’s side will also be in search of its third win of the campaign against the Lions, who has dropped just one game this season.

“What’s been positive for us is during the week, they’re all presenting a very positive attitude, very buoyant, they’re not letting these tight games take their toll in regard to the what ifs,” Lowther said following Geelong’s seven-point loss to Richmond last weekend.

“We’re process-driven, but we still feel the highs and lows of wins and losses, we’ve got to get over this learn from it, then we have Brisbane; another great task.

“Our last game against them was a tight tussle as well, so we’ll be ready to front up with them again and play a great game of footy.”

The Cats have been one of the more competitive sides this season, despite sitting 13th on the ladder with just two wins and a draw.

Geelong has the highest percentage out of any side in the bottom half of the ladder, due mainly to four games decided by less than two kicks but only one of which resulted in a win.

Lowther understands his side faces the nearly impossible task of making the top eight, but the Cats will be putting all of its resources into its remaining three games.

“We’ve got another three games, or we have more, if we win all three, you never know, there might be teams who pull a draw or we might jump across sides, or we might not win any games from this point on,” Lowther said.

“The fact is we have another game this week, then two games after that, it’s what we want to get from it that matters, whether it’s a win or a loss, or we get a chance to play players who need a greater capacity to play for us long term.

“We’ll take a lot from this week and a lot from the two games after that.”

Rachel Kearns was ruled out of last week’s game with concussion, so will miss this week’s game.

Geelong’s remaining three games are this Sunday against Brisbane, against West Coast in Perth on October 26 then against Adelaide at home on November 1.