AFLW Finals 2023: Silver lining to Geelong’s heartbreaking loss as Patrick Dangerfield not happy with late umpiring call

Patrick Dangerfield was less than impressed with a late umpiring decision in Geelong’s nailbiting loss. But despite how the Cats’ season ended, the future is looking bright.

Geelong had beaten just one top-eight side entering the finals.

That win came against Sydney in round two, who managed to win a final themselves but finished in eighth position after the home-and-away season.

The next week the Cats kept North Melbourne goalless for a half and then were kept goalless themselves in the next two quarters by the Roos.

A fortnight later, they were blown off Kardinia Park by Melbourne in a 49-point loss.

Then in round eight, after failing to kick a goal for two and half quarters, they lost by a goal to Collingwood, who finished the AFLW season in 11th.

Needing to win every match from that point, the Cats won four consecutive games to keep their season alive: overcoming their elimination final demons from last year, stunning Melbourne in a thriller and then finishing less than a kick away from an AFLW grand final.

Geelong lost by four points against Brisbane. Picture: Getty Images

While it is clear this side has improved significantly since losing their first final to North Melbourne last year, they have also come a long way in the last two months.

The Geelong of two months of go might have buckled under the pressure of the Lions who are oozing with finals experience. Brisbane kicked a goal inside the first minute and dominated the opening term.

But the Cats defence held firm and they managed to get their own game going, remaining within touching distance until the very end.

This finals run may appear out of the box, but this Cats side isn’t going anywhere – and they are only going to get better.

It’s hard to believe Georgie Prespakis, already one of the top players in the league, is only 20. She nearly single-handedly drove her side over the line at Brighton Homes Arena with 21 disposals and 18 contested possessions.

Nina Morrison has had a career-best season but is just 22-years-of-age. Becky Webster is 23. The courageous Chloe Scheer, who remarkably played less than a fortnight after suffering a hairline fracture in her collarbone, is 24.

Chloe Scheer was left shattered post-match. Picture: Getty Images

Irish recruit Aishling Moloney had hardly kicked a Sherrin six months ago and finished the season making defenders look silly. Down back, Claudia Gunjaca has gone from a fringe forward to one of the leading interceptors of the competition in the space of two seasons.

Throw in wingers Zali Friswell (20) and Mikayla Bowen and breakout midfielder-forward Darcy Moloney (21), who have all progressed in 2023, and it’s the young core of a side that should challenge the AFLW heavyweights for premierships in the years to come.

Any danger of rewarding the tackler… 🗑️

— Patrick Dangerfield (@dangerfield35) November 25, 2023

WAS IT A FREE?

“Any danger of rewarding the tackler…”

That was the question asked on social media by Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield, who was left bemused after Prespakis’ tackle on Lions midfielder Ally Anderson on the wing in the dying seconds.

Cats fans were screaming at the TV as Anderson appeared to drop the ball after the crunching tackle with 37 seconds left on the clock.

Would they have been able to turn it into a scoring opportunity with the Lions flooding numbers back?

Perhaps, and this non-decision underlines just how close the Cats were to yet another finals upset.

Renee Garing is consoled by Mikayla Bowen after her final AFLW game. Picture: Getty Images

GARE TO DREAM

Renee Garing entered Geelong’s round 10 clash against Hawthorn thinking it could be her last.

The managed to extend her career another three weeks, and her final two games epitomised the effort and heart she has shown throughout her 34-game AFLW career.

The 35-year-old laid 18 tackles against Melbourne and Brisbane, including a team-high nine on Saturday night.

An emotional Garing was chaired off by Meg McDonald and Kate Darby leaving absolutely nothing left in the tank.

Incredibly, she played 10 games in her final season after missing season six through pregnancy and spending season seven working her way back.

Originally published as AFLW Finals 2023: Silver lining to Geelong’s heartbreaking loss as Patrick Dangerfield not happy with late umpiring call