AFLW Round 12: Geelong lock in top-two finish; league stars call time

Jacqueline Parry returned from a concussion injury to kick five goals, leading the Geelong Cats to a decisive 68 point victory over the Western Bulldogs on Friday night. The win secures a top two position on the Australian Football League Women's ladder for the Cats. The match took place at GMHBA Stadium, where Geelong dominated the contest with a final score of 13.10 (88) to 3.2 (20). This performance extends Geelong's winning streak to eleven consecutive games. The Cats established control early in the contest. Parry scored the opening goal within the first minute. The Bulldogs responded immediately with a goal from Rylie Wilcox, but the visitors subsequently lost possession. Geelong accumulated eighty six disposals compared to forty one for the Bulldogs during the first quarter. The home team also recorded eleven forward entries against just two for the visitors in that period. By the first break, Geelong held a twenty point lead. The gap widened significantly as the halves progressed, with the Cats building a forty four point advantage at halftime. They piled on seven straight goals across the first half to maintain pressure. Geelong's midfield trio of Georgie Prespakis, Amy McDonald, and Mikayla Bowen controlled the tempo effectively. The visitors found it difficult to contain this group. Parry's five goals lifted her season total to twenty six, surpassing Sydney Swans player Chloe Molloy, who has twenty four goals. Young forward Chantal Mason contributed three goals for the Cats. For the Bulldogs, co captain Deanna Berry played her first game since round two. She had been sidelined for a month due to a collarbone injury. Berry kicked the team's final goal in the third quarter, but it was not enough to alter the outcome. Experienced midfielder Ellie Blackburn was rested for the match in preparation for the finals series. Geelong enters the final rounds with an eleven win record and one loss. They can finish no lower than second on the ladder. Defending premiers North Melbourne hold the better percentage and play Richmond on Saturday. The Cats' resurgence follows the arrival of coach Mick Stinear at the end of last year. He previously won flags with the club. This marks the end of a two year absence from the finals for Geelong. The Western Bulldogs, currently eighth wins and four losses, sit sixth on the ladder ahead of the weekend's remaining games. This result earns them their first finals berth since 2022. It is their third season under coach Tam Hyett. Despite securing a spot in the elimination round, the heavy defeat serves as a clear indicator of the distance between the teams in the premiership race. The Bulldogs showed limited ability to counter the superior ball movement and scoring output of the Geelong squad throughout the evening. Rebecca Webster of Geelong was seen tackling Dominique Carruthers of the Bulldogs in a physical exchange during the game. The match concluded with Geelong maintaining their dominance until the final siren. The statistical disparity in disposals and forward entries highlighted the class difference between the two sides. Both teams now look toward the upcoming fixtures to finalize their ladder positions before the finals begin. The Cats remain in red hot form heading into the post season, while the Bulldogs aim to build momentum despite the setback.