- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Geelong have easily beaten Essendon by 18 points for their first AFLW finals win, giving the Bombers women a bitter taste of the club’s notorious AFL playoffs futility.
The Cats kicked the first three goals in the opening seven minutes to kill off Sunday’s home elimination final and won in a canter, 7.9 (51) to 5.3 (33).
But after setting up Geelong’s first goal and kicking their third, the Cats’ leading goalkicker Chloe Scheer was forced out of the game in the opening term with a shoulder injury.
Cats coach Dan Lowther was pessimistic when asked at three-quarter time whether Scheer would play in the semi-final next weekend against the loser of this afternoon’s Melbourne-North Melbourne clash.
Much to the delight of rival clubs, earlier this month Essendon’s AFL team reached the dismal milestone of 7000 days without an AFL finals win, dating back to 2004.
In their second season, the Bombers women likewise have endured a rugged finals debut.
Essendon kept Geelong scoreless and kicked three goals in the last quarter to avert a heavy loss, but the damage was done.
The tone was set in the opening minute when gun Cats midfielder Georgie Prespakis won the ball out of the middle and found Scheer with a pass.
In turn, Scheer’s perfect kick found Aishling Moloney, who scored their first goal.
After Jacqui Parry goalled, Scheer also hit the scoreboard to put the Cats in charge.
But moments after her goal, Scheer was forced off following a collision.
Essendon only managed one behind in the first term and were 31 down in uncontested possessions as the Cats ran riot.
Bomber Amber Clarke was also stretchered off after she was crunched in a marking contest, but returned in the second half.
Trailling by 21 points at the first break, Essendon started the second quarter better and a 50m penalty set up Sophie Alexander for their first goal after four minutes.
But the Cats quickly killed off the challenge and led by six goals at halftime.
Prespakis, Amy McDonald, Rebecca Webster and Nina Morrison were outstanding for Geelong, while Georgia Nanscawen was a lonely shining light on another dirty finals day for Essendon.
© AAP
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.