Cats skipper Meghan McDonald on lessons from tough 2024 AFLW season, and how she refocused on being ‘best defender I can be’
Geelong’s Meghan McDonald admits last season wasn’t the easiest both personally and as team. But the long-standing skipper is confident the Cats’ best is up there and can compete for a premiership.
Geelong captain Meghan McDonald admits last season wasn’t her easiest.
A possible finals berth which eventually slipped away off a high of a preliminary final the year before, and her first without father Gordon to call on for a post-match debrief amid the losses.
It’s a feeling found more in reflection rather than how the 34-year-old felt in the moment, but the Cats’ underwhelming 10th-place finish has given McDonald two valuable lessons as they resume their chase of the ultimate – a premiership – on Saturday.
“I feel like we had a difficult season as a team, no doubt we didn’t bring the sort of energy and consistency that we were after,” McDonald said.
“(And) I think what you’ve got to learn in footy is you’ve got your people who you go to win, lose or draw who are there to support you and ultimately your number one fan – that was who my dad was to me.”
McDonald lost her dad Gordon a week out from the 2023 finals series, before bravely leading the Cats out in the club’s historic first AFLW finals win and subsequent preliminary final appearance.
Falling four points shy of a grand final was heartbreaking, but offered many hope heading into season 2024 that the Cats would contend again.
But for all the positive signs the Cats showed on field with an attractive and attacking brand of football, it didn’t translate into the win column before injuries piled up late.
McDonald was full of praise for all her family and friends’ support last season, but the bond between daughter and father can’t be overstated.
“Post game, particularly in a loss or when you’re feeling like your own game is not at its peak, that for many girls, they go to their dad to be like, ‘this is what you did great and this is what you’ve got to get better at but also we just love you and you’re great’,” she said.
“There is no doubt there are times it feels lonely when you’re not having the success you’d like and you want that support at 11pm post-game.”
McDonald said she’d learned to nominate people to turn too, and asked if there was anyone in particular she liked to turn to, McDonald’s mind went to ex-teammates Maddy McMahon – “if only she’d answer my texts” she laughs – and Mel Hickey, particularly as McDonald now finds herself a millennial among a legion of Gen Z teammates.
“Most of the team is younger than me now, but those players that I looked up to who are now retired, Maddy McMahon, Melissa Hickey – I caught up with them for a coffee last month – and I’d like to put that in the diary regularly to be like ‘you’re my key defending gals, I’ve been there with you before so I’m going to lean on you a bit more’,” she said.
McDonald’s second lesson to come from the wash of last season was that “performance comes off bringing a certain level of energy and enthusiasm” – something the Cats fell shy of maintaining last year.
McDonald believes a positive mood and intent has returned this pre-season as the Cats eye a return to finals – though she admitted you’d be hard-pressed to find any captain or club who didn’t have a similar outlook or belief they were in with a shot at this point of the season.
“I think the thing for us was, we were pretty close two years ago, four points from a granny,” she said.
“You think hopefully you continue on with that trajectory - unfortunately we didn’t make finals last year - but I still think we feel buoyed and inspired by the fact our best footy, I think everyone would agree, is able to match it with the best teams in the comp.
“But those best teams in the comp are consistent – we need to raise the floor in that respect.”
Words of wisdom
McDonald enters her sixth season as captain – putting her within some esteemed company in the AFLW.
While Richmond skipper – and McDonald’s former Bulldogs teammate – Katie Brennan holds the record as the longest serving captain across 10 seasons, having led both the Tigers and Dogs, McDonald is equal second for service among the current crop of captains alongside St Kilda’s Hannah Priest.
And there is no shortage of successful leaders in McDonald’s orbit around the decorated halls of Kardinia Park – whether that’s past or present players or captains.
“I do the (club) podcast with Cameron Ling each week, and I sometimes think I should hit him up for some more stuff, but the occasional word from him is really great,” McDonald said.
“He also captained the team, he retired on a premiership, that’s the dream, as did Joel (Selwood), maybe Paddy (Dangerfield) will, who knows. He’s (Ling) been great to lean on.”
McDonald also pointed to Head of AFLW Dominique Condo’s mentorship and leadership, as well as Steve Hocking since his return to the club as chief executive.
“AFLW is a real passion of his,” McDonald said of Hocking.
“But also his guidance, his valuing of people has been great for me in that respect.”
“No shortage of people – (ex-player) Renee Garing is back as our PDM (player development manager) – who have all the experience and goodwill in the world to support you when you need it.”
‘The best defender I can be’
McDonald is one of just three Cats players – alongside Shelley Scott and Kate Darby – to play as inaugurals in 2017, as the competition celebrates its 10th season in 2025.
Starting out as a fringe defender at Western Bulldogs, McDonald got a second lease at Geelong two years later where she transformed herself into a two-time all-Australian defender and Cats’ inspirational captain and best and fairest winner.
“With each year I talk about that side its gets longer and longer ago, it’s a bit like a memory, “ McDonald said of her early years in the league.
“The stories become a bit set in stone of that time, but the truth is, I’ll always feel incredibly lucky that I’ve timed my career to have witnessed the start of it – not necessarily influential at the start of it – but I was there in that first year and I now play with players who are full-time professional athletes.
“To be in its 10th year, and to look at the growth and influence on culture that this competition has had is inspiring and good to remind yourself when you get stuck in the day-to-day.
“It’s extraordinarily different to 2017.”
Entering 2025 on a new one-year deal, the 70-gamer said she was feeling as good as she ever had heading into her ninth season in the league.
“In all honesty one of the things I’m proud of in my footy is my availability to play, and training availability and consistency,” she said.
“So I feel like I’ve had another good pre-season personally and sort of refocused on trying to be the best defender I can be for the team.
“That’s where I started and what’s its always good to return to.
“Do I want to go on as long as I can? I certainly want to go on until we win the big one (premiership) – that’d be great.”
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Originally published as Cats skipper Meghan McDonald on lessons from tough 2024 AFLW season, and how she refocused on being ‘best defender I can be’
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