AFLW 2023: How every Geelong Cats player is tracking ahead of season eight

How is every Cat tracking heading into the AFLW season? We break down every player on the list, including breakout contenders, promising draftees and more.

Every AFLW Cats analysed for 2023.

Geelong enters this season with arguably its best possible chance to go deep in finals.

With talented young guns like Georgie Prespakis and Chloe Scheer, promising recruits and a relatively clean bill of health, the Cats have the chance to improve on their elimination final exit of last year.

We assess how every player is tracking entering season eight.

#1 Mikayla Bowen

Bowen shone in her first season at the Cats on and off the field after crossing over from West Coast. The 22-year-old has been voted into the leadership group and is tipped to continue her impressive form into season eight, with her running capacity allowing her to cover the ground with ease.

Mikayla Bowen was added to Geelong’s leadership group. Picture: Getty Images

#2 Annabel Johnson

While she played every game last season, Johnson was impacted by injury throughout the year. The defender has had a strong preparation for season eight which the Cats hope will lead to a strong season in the hoops.

#3 Amy McDonald

McDonald has established herself as one of the best players in the competition, leading from the front for the Cats in the midfield. The ball-winner has taken out the last three Cats best-and-fairests and averaged huge numbers in her All-Australian season seven campaign, tallying 24.8 disposals, 7.4 tackles and 6.9 clearances per game.

Amy McDonald has won the last three best and fairests. Picture: Getty Images

#4 Darcy Moloney

Has been one of the big improvers this pre-season, with her three-goal haul against Collingwood in Geelong’s first practice game a sign of things to come. Will get more opportunity up forward and through the midfield and her teammates view her as a breakout contender.

#5 Jacqueline Parry

The glue of the Cats forward line, Parry will be hoping to hit the scoreboard more after booting 3.6 in her first season at Geelong. But the former Demon will be an important player for the Cats in season eight.

#6 Julia Crockett-Grills

A player who always gives her all, the Cats know what they are going to get with Crockett-Grills whenever she takes the field. Expected to have an impact with her hard running and contested ball-winning.

#7 Kate Surman

Brings a lot of experience as a 31-year-old after crossing from Port Adelaide during the sign and trade period. Will play a high forward role and push into the midfield in season eight, a role that will allow her composure with ball in hand and precision kicking inside 50 to shine.

Kate Surman has joined the Cats from the Power. Picture: Getty Images

#8 Kate Darby

Like a fine wine Darby keeps getting better with age. The 32-year-old slotted two goals in Geelong’s second practice game and her role as a key forward/ruck will be pivotal in season eight.

#9 Nina Morrison

Gone from strength to strength entering her fifth season at the Cats. Her versatility gives Geelong headaches given she can be used up forward, on a ball or on the ball. Possessing speed and strong endurance, Morrison very valuable player for the Cats, having averaged a career high 16 disposals last season.

#10 Georgie Rankin

A leader in the backline for the Cats, Rankin specialises in shutting down opposition forwards as a high defender. The 25-year-old is getting more confident with ball in hand.

#11 Meghan McDonald

Named in the All-Australian squad in season seven, the Cats skipper hasn’t missed a training session over pre-season and has set the standard for her side. Will be taking on some of the competition’s best key forwards down back once again this season.

Meghan McDonald has gone from strength to strength this pre-season. Picture: Getty Images

#12 Renee Garing

Garing, 34, is back at the Cats, having missed both seasons in 2022 after having a baby. The tough, contested inside player can be used in the midfield and up forward.

#13 Olivia Fuller

Had an impressive year in the ruck playing undersized at 182cm. Will still have a role to play at stoppages but with the recruitment of Erin Hoare, the Cats will look to add another dimension to her game and use her in the attacking 50 more often.

#14 Chloe Scheer

Scheer was named up forward in the All-Australian team after a breakout campaign in season seven, where the dangerous forward was among the top goalkickers in the competition with 13 goals. The Cats are expecting big things from her again in 2023.

Chloe Scheer had a breakout season in 2022. Picture: Getty Images

#15 Shelley Scott

Scott surprised even the Cats with her impressive season up forward where she averaged close to a goal a game. At 35, Scott still has plenty to offer and is expected to be back in attack again in season eight.

#16 Chantel Emonson

Emonson was voted into the leadership group once again for season eight. An important player for the Cats on and off the field, with her elite footskills and decision from defence her major strengths.

#18 Anna-Rose Kennedy

The Irish recruit joined the club along with Gaelic teammate Aishling Moloney in the off-season and has settled in well since touching down in the country last month. The Cats believe a debut isn’t out of the question for the athletically gifted youngster, who is likely to be used as an outside runner or defender.

#19 Brooke Plummer

The Cats felt they snagged they best kick in the 2022 draft when took Plummer with the 41st pick. Plummer is still developing her contested game but she is expected to push for selection after playing four games in season seven.

#20 Zali Friswell

Friswell has played every game since being taken with the seventh pick in the 2021 AFLW Draft and is growing in confidence every time she takes the field. An elite runner, Friswell averaged 11.2 disposals and 2.5 marks per game.

#21 Rebecca Webster

Will miss at least the first few rounds with injury but she will be an important addition when she returns. Webster brings speed, power, ball-winning and leadership traits to the Cats. Took her game to a new level across both seasons in 2022.

Rebecca Webster will return early in the season. Picture: Michael Klein

#22 Rachel Kearns

Arrived back in Australia just last month after her Gaelic football team went deep into the finals. Had a knee concern early but she is back in full training and played in Geelong’s practice games and performed well. A combative player who brings spark, but she isn’t a walk-up start after playing four matches last season.

#23 Samantha Gooden

Was on the inactive list last season through pregnancy last season and she has made up for lost time with an impressive pre-season. The 190cm ruck, who was signed as a rookie ahead of season seven after making the switch from netball, is set to enter the selection frame throughout the season.

#25 Mia Skinner

Had picked up a couple of niggles throughout the pre-season. The Cats expect the 22-year-old to improve again this season after breaking through for five games in their last campaign, but it is a difficult forward line to crack into.

#26 Claudia Gunjaca

Gundjaca became a senior regular as a key defender last season, playing every game for the Cats. Another strong campaign looms after an impressive pre-season, and she will be tasked with playing on some quality goalkickers this year.

#31 Ingrid Houtsma

The outside runner/halfback showed some promising signs in Geelong’s first match simulation against Collingwood. Still 19, the Cats are expecting a lot of improvement from Houtsma in 2023.

#32 Gabbi Featherston

Breaking in for seven games last year, Featherson has shown has signs of growth this pre-season. But the 19-year-old will be sidelined for up to a month with a wrist injury. Expected to put her hand up for selection upon her return.

#39 Abbi McDonald

Only in her second season and of the draftees last year did 30 per cent of pre-season. Played some VFLW games for us last season and her development has gone through the roof. She is going to be potentially Playing in our back half early on. Brings another dimension with her toughness and composure

#41 Georgie Prespakis

In just her second season, Prespakis finished equal sixth in the league best and fairest, polling 15 votes despite being rubbed out for two games with suspension. Prespakis was one of the leading contested ball-winners in the competition in season seven and was still able to serve the ball on a platter to her teammates, averaging 21.8 disposals at 74 per cent efficiency, 5.7 clearances and 332 metres gained per game.

Georgie Prespakis is coming off a superb second season. Picture: Getty Images

#44 Melissa Bragg

Joining the Cats as a replacement player last year after crossing from netball Bragg came on in leaps and bounds in 2023, so much so that she played in their finals loss to North Melbourne – a great achievement for someone who hasn’t played a lot of footy. Another who will be contention for selection early in the season.

#45 Aishling Moloney

There has been plenty of buzz around Moloney since she was plucked from Ireland with Anna-Rose Kennedy in the off-season. Moloney showed exciting signs in their practice matches, bringing spark and energy to Geelong’s forward half. The mobile tall is strong in the air and is just as good when the ball hits the deck. Expected to improve rapidly as she picks up the game and is another who could debut sooner than first thought.

#46 Erin Hoare

Back in the AFLW after a three-year hiatus studying abroad and becoming a mother, Hoare has had made a seamless return since being taken with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 supplementary draft. The 194cm ruck is expected to rack up hit-outs at will this year and give the Cats midfielders first use, which she has done during their practice matches.

Originally published as AFLW 2023: How every Geelong Cats player is tracking ahead of season eight