GEELONG might have set the benchmark for the best 10th placed team in history when it failed to make finals despite a percentage of 109.6. The Cats had quite a few unlucky losses and realistically would have competed well in the finals had they made it, but that will be the goal in 2025.

LAST SEASON IN A NUTSHELL

Position: 10th
Wins: 4
Losses: 6
Draws: 1

B&F: Nina Morrison
Leading Goalkicker: Aishling Moloney (21 goals)

OFF-SEASON MOVES

Ins: Caitie Tipping (rookie, volleyball), Piper Dunlop (Geelong VFLW/AFLW Draft), Alexis Gregor (Bendigo Pioneers/AFLW Draft), Sienna Tallariti (Oakleigh Chargers/AFLW Draft), Erica Fowler (injury replacement player/Collingwood), Emma Kilpatrick (injury replacement player/West Adelaide)
Outs: Darcy Moloney (Sydney), Olivia Fuller, Abbey McDonald, Lilly Pearce, Brooke Plummer (delisted), Anna-Rose Kennedy (inactive, personal), Chantel Emonson (inactive, pregnant)

2025 TEAM LIST

#1 Mikayla Bowen
#2 Bella Smith
#3 Amy McDonald
#4 Caitlin Tipping
#5 Jacqueline Parry
#6 Julia Crockett-Grills
#7 Kate Surman
#8 Kate Darby
#9 Nina Morrison
#10 Georgie Rankin
#11 Meghan McDonald
#12 Kate Kenny
#13 Sienna Tallariti
#14 Chloe Scheer
#15 Shelley Scott
#16 Chantel Emonson*
#17 Erica Fowler+
#18 Anna-Rose Kennedy*
#20 Zali Friswell
#21 Rebecca Webster
#22 Rachel Kearns
#23 Bryde O’Rourke
#24 Chantal Mason
#25 Caitlin Thorne
#26 Claudia Gunjaca
#27 Emma Kilpatrick+
#30 Lexi Gregor
#32 Gabbi Featherston
#38 Piper Dunlop
#41 Georgie Prespakis
#44 Melissa Bragg
#45 Aishling Moloney

*inactive
+injury replacement players

ONES TO WATCH

Key Player: Georgie Prespakis
Breakout Potential: Zali Friswell
New Recruit: Sienna Tallariti

Star midfielder Georgie Prespakis looks like she is in for her best season yet if preseason performances are anything to go by, and a fit and firing Prespakis makes the Geelong side that much better. Likely to hit the 50-game mark in 2025, wing Zali Friswell is now into her fifth season at AFLW and the 21-year-old is capable of going to another level again as a well-balanced ball-winner. From the new draftees, two-time Coates Talent League Girls premiership player and best on ground in the grand final, Sienna Tallariti is a big-game prospect with great skill and smarts. A guaranteed future leader.

2025 FIXTURE

Round 1: vs. North Melbourne | Sat Aug 16 @ GMHBA Stadium, 3:35pm
Round 2: vs. Adelaide | Sun Aug 24 @ Unley Oval, 3:05pm
Round 3: vs. Sydney | Sat Aug 30 @ GMHBA Stadium, 3:05pm
Round 4: vs. Essendon | Sun Sep 7 @ Windy Hill, 3:05pm
Round 5: vs. Richmond | Sun Sep 14 @ Ikon Park, 1:05pm
Round 6: vs. Port Adelaide | Sat Sep 20 @ Alberton Oval, 1:05pm
Round 7: vs. Hawthorn | Thu Sep 25 @ GMHBA Stadium, 7:15pm
Round 8: vs. Carlton | Sun Oct 5 @ GMHBA Stadium, 3:05pm
Round 9: vs. GWS Giants | Sat Oct 11 @ GMHBA Stadium, 3:05pm
Round 10: vs. West Coast | Fri Oct 17 @ Sullivan Logistics Stadium, 9:15pm
Round 11: vs. Western Bulldogs | Sun Oct 26 @ Mars Stadium, 1:05pm
Round 12: vs. Melbourne | TBC @ GMHBA Stadium

PREDICTION

Geelong has been a challenger to the flag in recent years outside of last season, and with some fresh faces in the mix, should again be a tough opponent for most sides, particularly at their spiritual home of GMHBA Stadium. The key will be seeing where they are after six rounds, given the Cats play four out of six at home in the backend of the season, with the only away games against bottom four sides, West Coast and Western Bulldogs so should storm home with confidence. In fact the only two they should be underdogs for are the first two, so a top four finish beckons.