WITH a VFLW finals berth a certainty, Geelong has turned its attention to securing a home elimination final.
The Cats ensured the slim chance of them dropping out of the top six was no longer on the table with an impressive 51-point win over Darebin at Preston City Oval, 9.6 (60) to 1.3 (9).
With third spot out of reach, Geelong needs to win its remaining matches against Williamstown and Collingwood to be any chance of snatching fourth position from the Southern Saints.
“We’ve got to keep winning to get that,” coach Andrew Bruce told Bay 93.9’s The Sideline View.
“Williamstown next week, we’ll hopefully tick that box and move on.
“But (we’ve got to) get things right through the week before that.”
In a match where just ten goals were kicked, second-gamer Paige Scott was the standout.
The 17-year-old GWV Rebels product kicked five majors, including two in the first quarter, to help Geelong to a 21-point quarter-time lead.
Scott was one of seven changes the Cats made to the team that defeated North Melbourne the week before, with her Rebels teammate Kalani Scoullar and Geelong Falcons captain Charlotte Simpson making their debuts.
“All the girls that came in have been training with us for some time,” Bruce said.
“So they know the style of play that we have and are able to slot straight in and play a role.”
With ball magnet Laura Gardiner unlikely to play again as she prepares for the next AFLW season and Tamara Smith rested, Chloe Scheer picked up some of the slack in the midfield with 27 disposals, nine clearances and five marks.
She was supported by Carly Remmos (24 disposals, 14 tackles and six clearances) and Paige Sheppard (23 disposals, seven clearances, seven tackles).
Simpson, who is AFLW father-daughter eligible for both Geelong and St Kilda, had 11 disposals and laid seven tackles.
Twitter: @tom_king79
