AFLW 2024: Geelong’s Becky Webster on building upon 2023 preliminary final finish

Geelong’s Becky Webster has seen firsthand the Cats’ rise from expansion club to 2023 preliminary finalists, with the defender among a core group of playing now entering their prime.

Geelong’s Becky Webster expects to continue playing a dual role off half-back and through the midfield in 2024. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Stability in a forever-changing AFLW competition is a luxury and for Geelong, consistency in its core group gives the Cats the building blocks to compete for finals once again.

For Cats defender Becky Webster, she has one eye on last year’s top four as potential contenders once again but also insisted it was dangerous to think results of 2023 would translate into a new campaign some eight months later.

But for Geelong, there is optimism of building upon a preliminary final finish, with little roster shake up and several of their top draft picks since joining the competition back in 2018 now coming into their prime.

Geelong’s Becky Webster in action in the 2023 season. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

For Webster, she and Nina Morrison, both 23, were top 10 picks in the 2018 draft and took a couple years to find their feet, but now enter 2024 as joint vice captains and regular performers.

All Australian midfielder Amy McDonald, 26, joined a year later via the Cats’ VFLW team, while key forward Chloe Scheer – though currently sidelined with injury – also entered the AFLW via that same draft before joining Geelong in 2022.

Meanwhile, midfielder Georgie Prespakis was long touted as a future star of the competition before she was drafted by the Cats in 2021 — the 21-year-old now an all-Australian and club best and fairest ahead of her fourth season.

Add to that list plenty of others — 20-year-old winger Zali Friswell, also picked up in 2021, already has 30 games to her name — and the Cats have every opportunity to build off the foundation of an experienced list.

“To keep that same core group of girls the last couple years, it’s been amazing and you work on things each pre-season and build on the year before and having (coach) Dan (Lowther) now in the system for four or five years, you build off the same coaching philosophy and keeping that core group of girls makes that period of pre-season easier and easier,” Webster said.

“You really get to know your teammates on a deeper level and their ability on the ground, you sort of know how they’re going to exit and move the ball.”

Webster taking strides on-and-off field

For Webster, the lengthy off-season gave the rebounding defender and inside mid a chance to work on getting “fitter and stronger”, with many of her trainings centred around running to complement her craft.

“Being able to kick under pressure, (and getting) that handball chain out is super important for our team,” Webster said.

Becky Webster (third from left) has been elevated to co-vice-captain in 2024, working in a leadership group including Chantel Emonson, Mikayla Bowen, captain Meghan McDonald, co-vice-captain Nina Morrison and Amy McDonald. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Transitioning into the midfield more in recent years, Webster found herself back in her traditional role off halfback in 2023 — though her versatility is sure to exploited by her coaches with stints back in the midfield.

“I’ve really enjoyed the dual role,” she said.

“Probably off the halfback has always come natural to come, so love playing that role but also swinging in the inside mid has been really fun and we’ve got a good group of girls in there, and the backline as well, so to be able to do a bit of both has always been great.

“I expect to see similar this year.”

One role new to Webster this year is that of vice-captain, elevated into the role alongside ongoing vice Nina Morrison after two years in the leadership group.

Webster said the title came unexpectedly to her, but was something she was both excited for and honoured to receive.

“We’ve got a great group of girls, so to be able to lead them it makes my life easy,” she said.

“I’ve always tried to be my authentic self and be that to the group and push standards.”

It’s that ethos Webster said Morrison encouraged her to carry on when stepping into the vice-captaincy.

“Just be yourself and keep doing what you’re doing for the group,” Webster said.

“Definitely someone (Nina) I’ll lean on throughout the season I’m sure, I feel like we’ve got different leadership styles as well so it’s good to bring that out in both of us.”