YOUNGSTERS TO THROW OFF TRAINING WHEELS

EXPECTATIONS have been raised at Geelong as the club sheds its image as a young side in the AFLW.

The Cats will start their third season on Sunday against the Kangaroos as a side no longer finding its feet.

While Geelong has chosen to build its list through the draft, midfielder Renee Garing, pictured, said a year of development would not be accepted.

“This year there has been a real advancement in thinking,” Garing said.

“We have picked up five draftees, who are very talented young girls, but even with that we don’t call ourselves a new team.

“I think we feel as a group that we are a developed side and we have got those draftees from two years ago who are stepping up and becoming more experienced players and I think basically we are all competing for spots and I think that’s a great thing.”

Garing said being aggressive with ball in hand would be a trademark as the group built camaraderie.

“I think in terms of confidence and knowing what we can do with the ball, everyone’s skills are continuing to develop,” she said.

“We can try things that we weren’t doing in terms of the skill execution and not just take the safe kick, because we know we don’t want to be doing that any more.

“We know what our best footy is and it can be really great and if we play that way for four quarters we will be really competitive.”

Geelong’s confidence will be put to the test by North Melbourne, which belted the Cats by 46 points in Round 6 last year, in what would be Geelong’s final game of the season.

“I’ve watched it back and we had a really good first half against them but when you make skill errors or let them into the game, they are super talented and can run away with it,” Garing said.

“We know what we need to work on to correct that and our defensive pressure needs to be there at all times because they are really skilful and can move the ball quickly if you let them.”