Geelong Cats Secure First Win of the Season against Southern Saints

Round 3 rolls around, marking Geelong‘s first victory of the season against the Southern Saints. The Cats clinched an 18-point win at the Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Saturday, turning the tide in their favor after a slow start.

From the onset, the Saints surged ahead, striking with an early goal within the opening minute. The game unfolded mostly in the Saints’ attacking zone, keeping Geelong’s defenders under constant pressure.

Putting up a resilient defense, Jamilla Cranny stood out early for Geelong, thwarting the Saints’ advances. Despite the pressure, the Cats managed to keep the match tight, trailing by just seven points at the first break.

The second quarter saw Geelong struggle offensively, failing to score. However, they regrouped in the second half of the quarter, amassing several inside 50 entries. At halftime, the Saints held a 15-point lead.

Geelong returned with renewed vigor after the break, with goals from Abbey McDonald and Zoe Larkins, clawing back to narrow the margin to seven points by the end of the third quarter.

Sophie Mahar emerged as a catalyst for Geelong in the comeback. Coach Elise Coventry praised Mahar’s hunger for the ball post-game, highlighting her pivotal role in turning the tide in the Cats’ favor.

Building on their third-quarter momentum, Geelong stormed into the final quarter, erasing the deficit with goals from Breanna Pratt, Chantal Mason, and Olivia Stewart, ultimately seizing an 11-point lead.

Despite a late push by the Saints to reduce the gap to five points, Geelong sealed the game with late goals from Jane McMeel and Cheryl De Groot, securing an 8.6 (54) to 5.6 (36) triumph.

The match reflected a tale of two halves, with the Saints dominating early and Geelong mounting a strong second-half resurgence. Abbey McDonald led the game in disposals, making a significant impact in Geelong’s performance.

Geelong’s next challenge awaits against Darebin in Colac this Saturday, with the Cats carrying the momentum from their first win of the season.