AFLW: The keys to Geelong’s semi-final win over Melbourne

Geelong is into an AFLW preliminary final after a thrilling win over Melbourne which was based around the team’s continued growth, pressure and ability to seize the moment.

MELBOURNE , AUSTRALIA. November 19, 2023. AFLW. Semi Final. Melbourne vs Geelong at Ikon Park, Carlton. Jacqueline Parry of the Cats celebrates a 2nd quarter goal . Pic: Michael Klein

Growth and pressure.

They were two of the consistent themes in Geelong AFLW coach Dan Lowther’s pre-match press conference before the semi-final against Melbourne.

The Cats got plenty of that in two hours of an extraordinary five-point win to move through to a preliminary final against Brisbane next weekend.

In a historic club result, Geelong learnt a lot about themselves but also how to close out games against the very best.

For the first three quarters, they dominated on the back of a game based on pressure.

They played with a sense of freedom that had the games on their terms.

It was in complete contrast to a Melbourne side, who were the heavy favourites pre-match, who played as if they had the weight of the world on their shoulders making mistakes you just wouldn’t expect.

The final quarter was a complete turnaround. Melbourne dominated everything — kicking the first three goals of the final term.

That was until Darcy Moloney produced a brilliant piece of composure to sidestep a Melbourne opponent, kicking to the top of the goal square where Aishling Moloney marked and kicked truly.

The Irishwoman’s goal eventually proved the difference between the two sides.

Kate Darby of the Cats celebrates a 2nd quarter goal. Pic: Michael Klein

“It was far too stressful those last couple of minutes,” Nina Morrison told Channel 7 post-match.

Two finals, two wins in some of the most exciting and nail-biting scenes Geelong’s women’s team has produced in its short history.

The composure shown in those big moments will hold the Cats in good stead as they dream of a grand final appearance.

Watch the last two minutes and you’ll see a side who learnt on the job.

Under pressure, those Cats hunted and tackled their Melbourne opponents like their lives depended on it.

This group has displayed enormous growth in just a short season that’s 12 games old.

Brisbane will be the favourites when they meet on Saturday night at Brighton Homes Arena in Queensland.

But this Cats group can’t be discounted no matter the task at hand, and we’re asking: why can’t it be Geelong who does the unthinkable again?

MATCH REPORT

Geelong has held its nerve under almighty pressure to deny a fast-finishing Melbourne by five points and hand the Demons a stunning straight sets finals exit in one of the greatest ever AFLW games.

Melbourne looked resigned to a third consecutive loss for the first time in its history after managing only one goal in three quarters where Geelong looked the vastly superior side at Ikon Park.

But the desperate reigning premiers rediscovered their attacking spark in the final term to roar back into the contest with five goals, and would have forced the match into extra-time had a quick shot at goal from a stoppage by ruck Lauren Pearce not missed slightly to the left with 20 seconds remaining.

Melbourne re-entered its forward 50 after forcing a turnover at half-forward from the Geelong kick-in, but the siren sounded before Shelley Heath’s kick could meet captain Kate Hore.

The Cats raced away from a flat-footed Melbourne side early through two goals to Amy McDonald, who had not kicked multiple goals at all in her career but delivered the two of the opening quarter.

Claudia Gunjaca of the Cats. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

After playing third wheel to McDonald and Georgie Prespakis in the win over the Bombers, Nina Morrison was enormous for Geelong with a game-high 29 disposals and 10 clearances as the Demons struggled to win enough inside ball to service their forwards.

Melbourne would have gone for an eighth quarter with just a single goal if not for a Maddi Gay long bomb after the halftime siren, which cut the margin to 27 points at halftime.

None of the Demons’ high-profile forwards could get themselves into the contest until Eden Zanker ignited in the final term with three goals, but the fix to their scoring woes came too late.

Geelong will travel to Brisbane to face the Lions at Brighton Homes Arena on Saturday night, with North Melbourne to host Adelaide at Ikon Park on Sunday afternoon.

FORMER DEMONS BITE BACK

There wasn’t much Melbourne could have done to prevent Shelley Scott’s departure to be closer to home, but the experienced forward hurt her former side with her best performance of the season on Sunday.

Scott kicked a goal and was involved in six other scores as she linked beautifully with fellow former Demon Jackie Parry in the Cats’ forward half.

The Demons could have convinced Parry to stay if they wanted, but the 27-year-old made her old club pay dearly with a goal and three goal assists in the biggest game of her career.

TWIN TOWERS LOCK HORNS

Melbourne key defender Tahlia Gillard’s resilient performance against Geelong goalkicker Aishling Moloney may have been the only thing which kept the Demons in the contest heading into the final quarter.

Gillard had only once been beaten in 38 contested one-on-one battles heading into the semi-final, but had her hands full with the speedy Irishwoman and was fortunate Moloney dropped marks looking into the sun in the first quarter.

The move of the 190cm Gillard into the ruck in the final term may have kickstarted Melbourne’s comeback, but it also helped free Moloney up for a vital final quarter goal to extend the Cats’ lead back to 18 points, which ultimately proved to be the matchwinning goal.

Originally published as AFLW: The keys to Geelong’s semi-final win over Melbourne