AFLW | 2024 Season Preview

Geelong will be looking to build on its 2023 campaign, which saw them reach a Preliminary Final.  

Geelong – 2023 Season

Coach: Daniel Lowther 
Captain: Meghan McDonald 
Home and Away: 6-4 (141.2%) 
Ladder Position: 6th Place

Finals Results  

Elimination Final: Geelong def Essendon by 18 points @ GMHBA Stadium 
Semi Final: Geelong def Melbourne by 5 points @ GMHBA Stadium 
Preliminary Final: Geelong def by Brisbane by 4 points @ Brighton Homes Arena 
 
Club Best & Fairest: Georgie Prespakis 
AFLW Best First Year Player: Aishling Moloney  
 
Ins and Outs

Ins: Bella Smith (Brisbane), Chantal Mason, Bryde O’Rourke (Draft), Kate Kenny (Rookie), Lilly Pearce, Caitlin Thorne (Replacement Players) 
 
Outs: Annabel Johnson (West Coast), Renee Garing, Erin Hoare (Retired), Sam Gooden, Ingrid Houtsma, Mia Skinner (Delisted) 
 
Inactive list: Olivia Fuller has been placed on Geelong’s inactive list for the 2024 NAB AFLW Season to pursue a career in the Australian Defence Force.

Three Players to Watch

Georgie Prespakis: The star Cat elevated her game to a new level in 2023, firmly cementing herself as one of the competition’s top midfielders to help lead Geelong to a Preliminary Final.  
Prespakis averaged 24 disposals, seven tackles and seven clearances per game last season, and will be instrumental in the Cats’ success once again in 2024.  
 
Chloe Scheer: After earning her first All-Australian selection in 2022, Scheer was once again a dominant force up forward for the Cats last year. 
Booting a career-high 20 goals from 12 games in 2023, Scheer finished fourth on the competition’s goal kicking leaderboard while kicking multiple goals on five different occasions.  
 
Darcy Moloney: The young gun continues build, expanding her abilities as a forward while also spending more time through the midfield in 2023.  
Moloney averaged over 14 disposals and five tackles per game last year, including a career high 21 disposals against the Western Bulldogs (round one) and against Port Adelaide (round four).

New Spark

Chantal Mason: Mason is an exciting young key forward, joining the Cats in the AFLW draft last season from the Geelong Falcons program.  

Excelling in the Coates Talent League, Mason won the leading goalkicker award after booting 31 goals in 13 regular season games, including a 21-goal streak across four games through the middle of the season.  
 
With hauls of 7.2 and 6.1 against the Bendigo Pioneers and Tasmania Devils respectively, Mason will be an exciting prospect to keep an eye on this season.

It’s a Big Year For

Becky Webster: Webster has developed into one of the competition’s best young talents, showing a strong ability to play through the midfield and across half back.  
 
The Cats star averaged a career-high 18 disposals in 2023, providing great run and carry through the middle of the ground while leading the team for uncontested possessions.  

2024 Squad 

1. Mikayla Bowen 
2. Bella Smith 
3. Amy McDonald 
4. Darcy Moloney 
5. Jackie Parry 
6. Julia Crockett-Grills 
7.  Kate Surman 
8.  Kate Darby 
9.  Nina Morrison 
10. Georgie Rankin 
11.  Meghan McDonald 
12.  Kate Kenny 
13.  Olivia Fuller (Inactive) 
14.  Chloe Scheer 
15.  Shelley Scott 
16.  Chantel Emonson 
17.  Lilly Pearce 
18.   Anna-Rose Kennedy 
19.   Brooke Plummer 
20.  Zali Friswell 
21.  Becky Webster 
22.  Rachel Kearns 
23.  Bryde O’Rourke 
24.  Chantal Mason 
25.  Caitlin Thorne 
26.  Claudia Gunjaca 
32. Gabbi Featherston 
39. Abbey McDonald 
41. Georgie Prespakis 
44. Melissa Bragg 
45. Aishling Moloney