AFLW 2023: Geelong’s significant improvement displayed on finals stage

Geelong is through to a semi-final against Melbourne. But no matter what happens next week, the Cats’ season can be given the tick of approval. Here’s why.

Aishling Moloney celebrates a goal with Mikayla Bowen. Picture: Getty Images

This time 12 months ago, Geelong scored a solitary goal from 41 inside 50s in its elimination final loss to North Melbourne.

The Cats’ forward connection had cost them dearly in season eight, and it was an area coach Dan Lowther had narrowed his focus on in the off-season.

While Lowther conceded pre-game that this area was still a work in progress for his young Cats side, all the work they had put in came to the fore in their most important game of the season.

There was certainly no déjà vu for the Cats in elimination final 2.0.

The Cats had equalled that goalkicking tally from last year’s final inside 52 seconds when Aishling Moloney converted their first. And they had piled on three goals from their first handful of inside 50s.

Georgie Prespakis kicked one of Geelong’s seven first-half goals. Picture: Getty Images

The potent Geelong forward line clunked 12 inside 50 marks in the first half as the Cats spotted up targets with relative ease.

They booted seven majors to Essendon’s two in front of their adoring home fans as the game was all but over at halftime.

The Cats engine room led by Georgie Prespakis and Amy McDonald were dominant, and their immense pressure left the Bombers kicking straight back to their defence.

But the most influential player on the ground was a talent who wasn’t even on the AFLW radar when Geelong lost to the Roos: Irish sensation Moloney.

The Tipperary product did it all in the opening half with 14 disposals, five marks and two goals.

Moloney wasn’t just presenting on the lead, she was taking slips catches, weaving through tacklers with her athleticism and hitting targets on the lead.

She looked like a player with 12 years of Aussie rules experience, rather than an Irish export in just her 12th AFLW game.

Aishling Moloney was a force up forward. Picture: Getty Images

TICK OF APPROVAL

The Cats recorded one less home-and-away win in 2023 compared to season eight, but it is clear for all to see that the Cats have improved markedly in the space of a season.

Their on-ball brigade of Prespakis, McDonald and Nina Morrison is up there with the best midfield combinations in the competition.

Defender Claudia Gunjaca has emerged as one of the leading interceptors in the league, adding to a strong back six with plenty of run from the likes of Becky Webster and Chantel Emonson.

And that missing piece of their puzzle, their forward line, has gotten better as the season has gone on.

They will have to keep that first half form going if they are to advance further in the AFLW finals, but their elimination final win means signifies that season 2023 is already a success for the Cats.

Originally published as AFLW 2023: Geelong’s significant improvement displayed on finals stage