HAVING qualified for finals in their maiden AFLW campaign with a negative record, the Geelong Cats will look to build on a promising year 2019 with a settled list and some experience under their belts. The off-season was rather quiet for the Cats, but they added some solid depth and mature bodies to compliment their already strong leadership group and promising batch of youngsters. Versatility, adaptability, and a home ground fortress will be key to the Cats’ campaign, with a second finals and a positive record again the goal in a new conference. It seems the Cats will be fighting the battle for third spot with two very strong sides poised to top Conference A, but will have their work cut out for them.

KEY PLAYER:

Meg McDonald (defender)

Perhaps not the first name thought of, but McDonald solidified herself as one of the Cats’ star players in a 2019 season good enough for All Australian and best and fairest honours. An intercept marking machine who maintained a high level of performance, the former Darebin Falcons mainstay excels across defensive 50 with her reading of the play and assuredness in possession. Those traits will again be important for the Cats as they look to back up a campaign good enough for finals last time out, with the leadership and organisation McDonald brings to the fore key to any great side. Teams build from the back, and Geelong can do exactly that off their newly-named vice captain.

RISING STAR:

Nina Morrison (outside midfielder)

A player who needs no introduction, the 2018 number one pick will be itching to add to her one senior game this year as one of the favourites for the Rising Star award. Morrison’s maiden AFLW campaign was agonisingly cut short when she ruptured her ACL during training in the week after an outstanding debut, where she was arguably best afield in Geelong’s opening AFLW fixture and win. While the Cats have somewhat filled out their midfield, Morrison is good enough to slot straight back in on a wing or through the engine room, but will more likely feature on a flank as she builds into what is set to be a big year for her. Undeniably classy on the outside and able to rack up possessions, Morrison will be hard to miss out there.

WATCH FOR:

Rebecca Webster (utility)

Among the 2018 draft crop headlined by Morrison was Webster, a Murray Bushrangers graduate who only featured in four AFLW games in 2019 after being selected with pick seven. But a best and fairest winning VFLW campaign has seen her take her game to new heights, transitioning from her usual defensive role to become more of a utility with time spent up forward and through the midfield. The trait of versatility is one that carries through most of the Geelong list and if she can make the step-up, Webster may well be a key asset for the Cats in 2020.

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CONFERENCE OPPONENTS: Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, GWS GIANTS, North Melbourne, Richmond.

FIXTURE:

Round 1 – @ Fremantle
Round 2 – vs. Brisbane
Round 3 – vs. Adelaide
Round 4 – @ Richmond
Round 5 – @ Gold Coast
Round 6 – vs. North Melbourne
Round  7 – @ GWS
Round 8 – vs. Collingwood

Finding consistency will be the main priority for Geelong amid somewhat of a rollercoaster draw early on, with two very tough fixtures against Fremantle and Adelaide coming in the first month. While anything can happen, the games in-between against Brisbane and Richmond become must-win propositions, and will make it easier for the Cats to get into the groove later on with a game against GWS in Round 7 one which could decide third spot. A second crossover game comes against Collingwood to round out the year, which may be a deceptively difficult task despite the Magpies’ lowly 2019 standing.

PREDICTION: 3rd/4th Conference A

While it would be silly to assume anything in this game, Adelaide and North Melbourne look like the obvious choices to fill two of the finals spots in Conference A, and a high finish in last year’s campaign means the Cats now face a tougher draw than perhaps they deserve coming off a 3-4 season. But with some added experience, good dynamism and the return of Morrison, Geelong look like a leading candidate to slot into third should they win the important games and ones they are favourite for.