Cats won’t be rattled
GEELONG insists it won’t be rattled by the double-blow of its first AFLW defeat and the loss of top draft pick Nina Morrison.
The Cats were brought back to earth on Saturday night, losing to the Western Bulldogs 5.4 (34) to 2.4 (16) at Whitten Oval.
It came just two days after the Cats lost 18-year-old Morrison for the rest of the season after she ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee at training on Thursday.
The Cats were on cloud nine after defeating Collingwood last week, but their lack of experience was exposed by the reigning premier Bulldogs, who snatched the lead early in the second term and didn’t look back.
“I think it probably galvanised the team if anything,” coach Paul Hood said. “They worked really hard, they fought so hard for long periods of the game and really took it up to a really good team.
“Nina is travelling pretty well, as well as can be expected. She’s a really resilient person and she’s already got a plan in place as to how she’s going to get back better than ever.”
PHOEBE ON SIDE
GAME two for Geelong was again full of firsts and the opening goal was no exception.
Former GWS Giants forward Phoebe McWilliams was the first to hit the scoreboard, converting her first kick in Cats colours into a major.
It was less than five months ago that McWilliams, in her last game at any level, was celebrating a VFLW premiership victory for Hawthorn, having dominated across half-forward in the grand final win against Geelong.
That premiership was bittersweet for the talented key forward, who knew that in her next game of footy, she would be lining up alongside a number of the players who she had beaten at Docklands.
She added some real potency inside-50 for the Cats and will form an important partnership with fellow forward target Maddie Boyd, after missing the win over the Pies with hamstring tightness.
DOGS KICK AWAY
A FRUSTRATING 50m penalty against Olivia Purcell allowed the Dogs to hit back with a goal against the breeze in the first quarter — and a crucial missed shot by Kate Darby meant the Cats held just a two-point lead at the first break.
The reigning premiers then made the visitors pay in the second term.
Deanna Berry ran 50m for an easy goal after a handball turnover from the Cats, and Bonnie Toogood and Ellie Blackburn stretched the mar- gin to 16 points, as the Cats failed to score against the wind.
CATS’ FUTURE STARS
WITH young guns Olivia Purcell and Denby Taylor picking up more midfield minutes following the devastating ACL injury to Morrison during the week, the Cats pressed again in a tight third term.
Taylor, who was awarded best-on-ground in the Falcons’ TAC Cup Girls grand final victory last year, was prolific in her new role, and a smart gather inside-50 and some composure had her handball to Purcell, who fired a handball out to debutant Georgia Clarke, who kicked a goal of her own.
But some critical set-shot misses from McWilliams in the third term failed to eat into the deficit, as the Dogs maintained a 14-point buffer at the final change.
DEFENCE RESOLUTE
AN arm-wrestle couldn’t split the two sides in the fourth term, as the Cats defence held firm, but a healthy crowd of 8612 cheered as the Dogs made their season record 2-0.
Meghan McDonald was again one of the Cats’ best on the last line of defence, leading the team disposals with 21.
Taylor did enough to prove she will have a long AFL career, while McWilliams added plenty to the Cats team up forward.
Ruck Erin Hoare will also be better for the run after getting through her first game back from a foot injury.
Suspended midfielder Rocky Cranston will be a much-needed inclusion when the Cats travel to Adelaide on Sunday, while captain Melissa Hickey will more than likely make her Cats debut this weekend.