STAR midfielder Renee Garing isn’t ready to call time on Geelong’s inaugural 2019 AFL Women’s season just yet.
The Cats, who sit second on the Conference B ladder heading into the final round clash with the GWS Giants in Canberra on Friday night, know a win will be enough to lock away top-two finish.
However, a loss will leave Geelong needing Brisbane to lose to the winless Collingwood to ensure a preliminary final berth.
Needless to say, Garing is keen to avoid a nervous weekend.
“Coming off a game where we didn’t play as well as we could have (against Fremantle), and the disappointment that comes with that after such a great game in Brisbane, provides even more motivation to play better footy,” she said.
“We want another game; we want to play again as a group.
“If we don’t put it all out there this weekend, that might be it. We don’t want to leave it to chance or percentage.
“We’ll be doing everything to prepare and be right for that.”
Geelong was no match for Fremantle after half time of last week’s loss.
Trailing by one point at the main break, the Cats were held scoreless as the Dockers pulled away for a 36-point win.
“They applied a lot of pressure, and we didn’t handle that, dropping balls we’d normally take,” Garing said.
“That next handball then went to ground, and they’d be on top of us.
“So, we need to make sure we’re using the ball better all over the ground, and put our defenders under less pressure, and get the ball moving forward.
“The inside 50s in the last quarter were well and truly to their advantage, which made it a hard day out for our defenders.”
Although the Giants have just the one win for to their name, Garing knows they won’t hand Geelong the four points.
“They’re a strong side, and they play a contested game, and they’ve been pretty unlucky in some of those games where a few things haven’t gone their way,” she said.
“So, we’re not underestimating how strong they will come out and the talent and experience they have in their side.
“We know it’s going to be a tough day out, but, hopefully, we can get the job done.”
Garing is one of five Geelong players named as ambassadors for September’s annual Footy Colours Day.
An initiative of the Fight Cancer Foundation, the national fundraising campaign supports kids living with cancer through treatment, support, and research funding.
“I feel like I get lots of opportunities – which I love – but I really wanted to be involved in this one, particularly.
“Working in a school environment, you see the kids that have the potential to do everything, and when circumstance comes in the way of that, if we can give them the opportunity every other kid get, I think that’s something quite special.”
Joining Garing as ambassadors are Kate Darby, Georgia Clarke, Sophie Van De Heuvel and Hayley Trevean.
For more information check out https://www.fightcancer.org.au/
Twitter: @tom_king79
