AFLW 2024: Geelong’s Chantel Emonson says ‘collective’ defensive effort helped negate top four Lions attack

Geelong heads west for another must-win match off the back of one of their best performances to date, with two key inclusions returning from injury.

Geelong’s Chantel Emonson believes the Cats’ defensive performance against reigning premier Brisbane was “us back at our best”, as two must-win matches are set to define the Cats’ precarious finals hopes.

The Cats need a flawless finish in their final two rounds – starting with 11th placed West Coast Eagles on Saturday in Perth before welcoming Adelaide to GMHBA Stadium on November 1 – to have any hope of factoring in finals.

Geelong AFLW players Chantel Emonson, Julia Crockett-Grills, Jackie Parry and Georgie Prespakis showcase the Cats’ Indigenous jumpers, which they will wear in round 9 and 10. Picture: Alison Wynd

That task is aided by star midfielder Amy McDonald and Irish defender Rachel Kearns’ return from injury ahead of the Eagles’ clash, with injured duo Gabbi Featherston (hamstring) and Chantal Mason (foot) coming out.

“They’re both quality players and we know what they’ll bring each week,” Emonson said of McDonald and Kearns.

The Cats’ ability to finish up forward has been a major talking point this season after struggling to put games to bed, though periods defensively where opposition has been able to score quickly has equally hurt their chances.

But in one of their most mature performances to date on Sunday, Emonson and her fellow defender’s collective efforts kept a premiership forward line in the Lions quiet.

“Across the six of us that rolled through there, everyone played their role and it was us back at our best, and it was a four quarter effort,” Emonson said.

“Throughout the season, we’ve had quarters where we are on but we haven’t been able to nail that for four quarters.

“They (Lions) had some key forwards in their forward line who had been performing really well – as a collective, I thought we did really well to negate their influence well but it certainly helped having all three lines across the board connected and playing really well as well.”

Headlined by a career-best outing from 10-gamer Anna-Rose Kennedy, Emonson felt the Irish defender’s performance highlighted the growth of several individuals this season.

“For her to play like that, it also allowed the confidence in the other members in that backline as well to play their role,” she said.

“You could look at everyone in that backline and moments they’ve had throughout the season and how they’re playing their role well but I think it’s about the growth across the board.

“Anna-Rose, she played her first game in the preliminary final last year and now she’s a seasoned veteran in that backline.”

“It’s just nice to see that growth as an individual for her as well.”

The Cats will don their First Nations jumper in the final two rounds as part of this year’s AFLW Indigenous round, with artist Sherry Johnstone speaking to players this week about the meaning of her design, ‘Layers of the Land’.

“We’re really excited about being able to wear that, and we recognise it’s such an important round to so many individuals within the AFLW space but also the artists who have made all the jumpers,” Emonson said.

Originally published as AFLW 2024: Geelong’s Chantel Emonson says ‘collective’ defensive effort helped negate top four Lions attack