Cats claw past Lions to keep AFLW finals hopes alive
Geelong have kept their slim AFLW finals hopes alive with a 10-point upset of Brisbane, ending the reigning premiers’ seven-match winning streak in the process.
Nina Morrison and Georgie Prespakis starred as the Cats kicked the opening three goals in an early blitz before holding firm for a 7.5 (47) to 5.7 (37) win at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday.
It was the first home victory of the season for Dan Lowther’s side but came at a cost when Gabbi Featherston suffered a hamstring injury.
Geelong, who lost to Brisbane in a preliminary final last year, sit six points out of the top eight with two rounds left to play and travel interstate to play fellow finals hopefuls West Coast in week nine.
Morrison (24 disposals) and Prespakis (20 touches, 10 tackles, 10 clearances) shone against Brisbane, with Anna-Rose Kennedy (18 touches) and Julia Crockett-Grills (20) also influential.
Aisling Moloney and Shelley Scott kicked two goals each.
Irish forward Moloney took her season tally to 15, just one behind Brisbane’s league-leading Taylor Smith, who was held goalless against the Cats.
“We’re a slim chance now of finals, but for us winning that today meant our pride was on the line as a football club,” Moloney told Seven.
“It just means so much to this group because the last few weeks have been tough, but we’ve stuck together and finally got the win.”
The result was a huge blow to Brisbane’s top-two chances as key forward Dakota Davidson was sidelined with concussion.
Davidson, who has a history of such issues, kicked the Lions’ first goal but was hurt when she hit her head on the turf in a second-quarter marking contest and played no further part in the match.
She will miss the crucial clash with Sydney in week nine.
Goals to Moloney, Scott and Jacqueline Parry in the opening nine minutes gave Geelong the early upper hand before Davidson kicked Brisbane’s first.
Davidson was forced off early in the second term before Mikayla Bowen produced a bizarre, yet skilful, goal that lifted the Cats.
Bowen marked and pushed back the wrong way before realising her mistake and slotting her long-range shot on the run.
It helped Geelong to a 5.1 to 3.4 lead at the main break.
Moloney’s second increased the margin to 23 points early in the final term before Brisbane launched one final challenge.
Two goals in a minute through Orla O’Dwyer and Evie Long gave the visitors a sniff with three-and-a-half minutes left, but the Cats held on.
“(Brisbane) are an incredible team,” Moloney said. “They’re so athletic and they bring the fight.
“You know, they are Lions at the end of the day.”
Star midfielder Ally Anderson (21 disposals) and Charlotte Mullins (18) were Brisbane’s major ball-winners, while O’Dwyer finished with two goals.
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