AFLW 2023 Round 3 Preview: Friday

  • Team
  • Geelong
  • North Melbourne

5:05pm
GMHBA Stadium

Recent Form

Both these teams come into tonight’s clash with an undefeated start to the season, so unless tonight’s match is a draw, one of these teams’ undefeated records will come to an end tonight.

History

These teams both came into the AFL Women’s competition in the same season, so there is plenty of history between the two sides.

Although, the history between the sides is more positive for the Roos than the Cats. Tonight’s match is the seventh between the pair, with North Melbourne winning all six of the previous encounters.

Key Stat Areas

With some big wins for both sides and two undefeated campaigns all to begin the season, there are some big numbers in Geelong and North Melbourne’s stats.

The start of this season has shown that North Melbourne are the more kicking side of the two, while Geelong prefers to handball.

Geelong also do better in the uncontested possessions, while North Melbourne are better in the contested possessions.

The stats around ball ups are also very interesting. North Melbourne have been doing significantly better in the hit outs and stoppage clearances, but Geelong are doing better in overall clearances and centre clearances.

Key Match Ups

Georgie Prespakis vs Jasmine Garner

These two have both had exceptional starts to their 2023 AFLW seasons, and are both crucial components to the midfield success of their respective teams.

Both are strong bodied midfielders who are the first link in the clearance chains for their teams, so expect to see a hard fought battle between the pair tonight.

Meghan McDonald vs Kate Shierlaw

North Melbourne do have a lot of tall targets in their forward line that are going to be a tough assignment for Geelong’s defence tonight, but Shierlaw is the newest addition that has provided a huge boost.

Shierlaw is not easy to match up on, but Geelong might just have the solution in its captain. McDonald is all, strong, and can match it with someone like Shierlaw in a contest.

Chloe Scheer vs Eliza Shannon

Up the other end Geelong also has plenty of dangerous forward targets for North’s defence to take care of, but Geelong’s are more varied in size than North’s are.

One of those is Chloe Scheer who is small and quick but very dangerous and she proved last week how dangerous she can truly be. With other more experienced team mates likely to be matched up on other opponents, the task of keeping Scheer quiet may fall to Shannon, but if she can do her job than North’s night will get a lot easier.

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