WEATHERING a 24-tackle first term from Hawthorn, Geelong found a way through to kick nine goals to three in the match and secure a comfortable 40-point win – and a subsequent home final – at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Coach Dan Lowther said he was “super proud” of the group’s season, with the team able to work its way through some serious heat from Hawthorn early, and apply scoreboard pressure in the 9.6 (60) to 3.2 (20) victory.

“It was just to absorb that pressure, all teams lay tackles and put pressure on,” Lowther said. “For us to be able to absorb that first pressure act that the opposition give us and today Hawthorn, and fight through it.

“It was always going to be a hard slog, but after quarter time, the urgency to play at the same way that we’ve played over the last couple of weeks, to get through that pressure point and also the composure piece to find the outside release players and get the ball forward was promising.”

Lowther said there was not much made of the importance of the result, but there was no denying all the players and coaching staff knew a win meant finals, while a loss meant sitting out the post-season series.

“We didn’t really make a big deal of the outcome this week but we all knew we had to win the game to guarantee us playing in the post-season,” he said. “To respond off the back of a really strong four-quarter game again, to get the result was great.”

Two of the stars of the day were midfield duo Georgie Prespakis (35 disposals, eight clearances) and Nina Morrison (34 disposals, seven clearances and a goal) who stepped up on the inside with Amy McDonald to match it with the Hawks inside duo of Emily Bates and Tilly Lucas-Rodd.

“Georgie’s going from strength to strength, she had a bit of a tag in the second half today which she found a way to get through which was a positive with a bit of support from her teammates,” Lowther said.

“‘Nins’ continues to show her versatility, she can play as an outside runner on the wing if she needs to, or she can just play inside and have just as much effect for us, which is great. Nina’s fight is unparalleled across the competition and it’s going to take us a long way I think.”

Forward Chloe Scheer kicked her 50th goal during the match, one of three for the day from 10 disposals as she proved to once again be the most damaging forward on the ground. Cats skipper Meghan McDonald revealed Lowther might have had to remind players of the achievement.

“Dan had a go at us for not getting down to give her a pat on the back after a goal,” McDonald joked. “It’s a long way to go when someone’s kicked that many. I’ll go down for her first goal … nah the thing about is she can have a shot from anywhere in the 50, she’s lining up for a set shot and we’re standing behind the ball thinking this will go through and it’s so exciting and reassuring to think that. You get your rest and you know you’re going to put scoreboard pressure on, so we’re very lucky to have her at the Cats.”

McDonald also praised the work of defensive partner-in-crime Claudia Gunjaca whose game according to the captain had gone to a “new level” this year.

“I think she’s been really outstanding and every time I see the ball go over my head and I get a bit worried there she is, taking an intercept mark,” she said. “She’s only played 25 games today so it’s huge for her and that’s just one of the perks of being in a really strong unit. The high defenders are getting on the scoreboard too which is exciting.”

The skipper thanked the support of the fans who were “hopefully getting some reward for their loyalty” after being there during the down years, but could now look forward to another finals series. The Cats will get that opportunity one last time when they host Essendon next week in a home elimination final at GMHBA Stadium.

Lowther said the 10-game fixture provided plenty of challenges, but he was “super proud” of how the girls performed throughout the season and that they had earned a finals spot.

“You don’t get to play against everybody, so to respond and play who you’re fixtured again and bank enough wins to get to this post-season is important for us, so that just shows the maturity of the group,” he said.

“The last 18 months we’ve gone through some significant change, it’s been well documented but this group is galvanising really well and we’re looking forward to next week whoever that might be, but they deserve to play finals because of the way they’ve played throughout the 10 games.”