Who: Geelong Cats vs Brisbane Lions
Where: GMHBA Stadium
When: Sunday 20th October at 1:05pm (local)
Gates Open: TBC, check your ticket for your entry gate.

Weekly Notices → None at the moment, check back later! 

Tickets → On sale here!

Activities → This Sunday at GMBHA Stadium Geelong they'll have face painting, sausage sizzle, bulla ice cream & poster giveaways, DJ, RECORD photobox, mascots, kids zone, Ford vehicle display.

Sensory Zone → For guests who have sensory sensitivity, we have introduced our Sensory Zone initiative.

Service Dogs →Service dogs are most welcome at GMHBA Stadium.  If the handler is comfortable, the service dog able to sit underneath their seat. However, for more room the option to purchase a “Carer” seat and have the service dog be located next to this is also available. Enquiries directly to ticketing@geelongcats.com.au.

Sensory Sensitivity → The Geelong Cats and Kardinia Park Stadium Trust have partnered with US not for profit organisation KultureCity to improve their ability to assist and accommodate guests with challenges in processing sensory information. Their objective is to provide an inclusive experience for every guest. They strive to raise awareness of the needs and challenges faced by individuals with sensory processing challenges by supplying their staff, customer service and security members with training and by offering the resources and accommodations below to their guests.

_{Geelong thank our collaborating partners: Leisure Networks, Deakin University, BCYF, Barwon Paediatric Services, Kane Constructions, Latrobe Community Health Service, NDIS, G21, Gateways Support Services, Armstrong Creek School, Diversitat, Early Childhood Early Intervention Working Group, City of Greater Geelong and the Percy Baxter Charitable Trust managed by Perpetual.}

Sensory Sensitivity → Sensory backpacks* containing fidget toys, noise-cancelling headphones and other resources, are available for checkout (at no cost by leaving an ID) at the Welcome desk (ground floor, Brownlow Stand) and Deakin Cats Community Centre (ground level, Players Stand).

Sensory Room → Their designated Sensory Room in the Deakin Cats Community Centre (Ground floor, Players Stand). This includes a small multi-sensory room, within a larger quiet space. Guests utilising the Sensory Room are required to have an adult carer accompanying them at all times. Please reach out to our customer service team if you require assistance locating this room. Click here to view a map of GMHBA Stadium (pdf)

Address → 370 Moorabool St, South Geelong VIC 3220

Drive → Geelong is 75 kilometres from Melbourne accessible via the Westgate Bridge and following the Princes Freeway. In Geelong, the Princes Freeway becomes Latrobe Terrace (no turns required). Once you reach the set of traffic lights directly adjacent to 7-Eleven turn left onto Kilgour Street and make an immediate right. This will take you straight into Kardinia Park’s main entry being Kilgour Street.

Public Transport → Geelong is approximately one hour from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station, with the Geelong Railway Station situated 1.8 kilometres to the north of the stadium and South Geelong Station located 450 metres to the east. Additional services may be provided by V/Line on Major Event days. Patrons are encouraged to visit the V/Line and/or Public Transport Victoria websites, for more information.

Watch → Free to air on Channel 7Mate or stream on Fox Footy or Kayo.

Geelong has put a dent in Brisbane's top-two hopes with an upset 10-point win on Sunday afternoon.

Not even a late flurry of Lions goals could prevent the 7.5 (47) to 5.7 (37) Cats victory on a sunny GMHBA Stadium.

Nina Morrison (24 disposals, one goal) was the star, dictating play in the middle and then worrying her opposition with her movement into attack, while Anna-Rose Kennedy (18 disposals, 581m gained) had a career-best outing deep in defence.

The Cats got the fast start on their home deck, becoming the first team to kick three first-quarter goals against the Lions this year, via the boots of Aishling Moloney, Jackie Parry, and Shelley Scott.

Those opening three goals came from just six inside 50 entries, unsettling a typically composed and well-drilled Lions defence.

Scott (two goals) played her best game of the season in her 75th AFLW appearance, keeping Lions captain Breanna Koenen occupied all day, and Moloney's athleticism resulted in 13 disposals and two goals.

Meanwhile the Cats had a plan to compete with Brisbane spearhead Taylor Smith, with Kennedy handed the task, and the ruck rotation of Kate Darby and Melissa Bragg dropped back to help block Smith's leading lanes.

It worked impressively, as Dakota Davidson became the most likely forward option for Brisbane in the first half, kicking her side's first goal before being ruled out for the second half with concussion.

Without Davidson, Brisbane looked uncharacteristically impotent in attack, struggling to generate genuine opportunities in the face of the sheer numbers in its forward 50.

Geelong simply did the little things right. Swarmed the ball carrier to create immense pressure, then spread dangerously when possession was won.

It was a hand to disrupt the flight of the ball here, or a knock-on there, and such efforts forced Brisbane's disposal efficiency to just 59 per cent for the game.

Brisbane tried everything. Courtney Hodder and Natalie Grider spent time on the ball, Tahlia Hickie and Lily Postlethwaite were shifted into attack, but none of it was enough to break through the Cats' relentless pressure and spread game.

Despite the loss, Charlie Mullins' star continued to rise with the teenager recording 18 disposals, one goal, as she never stopped running, and Orla O'Dwyer (14 disposals, two goals) made her return from a shoulder injury unscathed.

The loss the Lions needed to have?
This time last year, Brisbane capitulated under the pressure St Kilda applied, to record a 21-point loss in round nine. It proved to be a loss that spurred the Lions onto their second AFLW premiership. So, after Sunday's 10-point loss to the Cats, the question must be asked – is this the loss the Lions needed to have in order to propel them toward another flag? The games played out similarly, with Brisbane on the back foot from the start, unable to generate any real sense of control in the game. What it does, however, is make next week's opponent Sydney especially nervous to face the Lions.

An ugly fall
AFLW leading goalkicker Taylor Smith was well-held by Geelong's defensive structures, putting the pressure on Dakota Davidson to re-establish herself as Brisbane's main target in attack. She looked strong, kicking through the Lions' first goal against the run of the play, and presenting well in the aerial contest, but midway through the second term, as she took an impressive leading mark in the forward pocket, she came down hard and her head slammed into the turf. It took some time for the star forward to come from the ground, with Courtney Hodder taking the shot on goal, and Davidson was almost immediately ruled out of the game with concussion. Not only were there implications for the game in play, but for next week's clash with Sydney.

Bowen's misdirection
Late in the second quarter, as the Lions were threatening to establish some control, Mikayla Bowen made a moment of confusion work to her advantage. The winger-turned-forward took a mark on what she initially thought was her defensive flank, and as she worked herself back off the mark, she did well enough to convince direct opponent Poppy Boltz that they were further from the Cats' goals than they were. Once she in fact realised that she was in the front half, she was off and running, and neatly dobbed a goal from just inside the arc.

Up next
Geelong will make the trip to Perth to take on a smarting West Coast side at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday afternoon, while Brisbane returns to Brighton Homes Arena to host Sydney to close out week nine.

GEELONG            3.1    5.1    6.4   7.5 (47)
BRISBANE          1.1    2.4    3.5   5.7 (37)

GOALS
Geelong: Scott 2, A.Moloney 2, Parry, Bowen, Morrison
Brisbane: O'Dwyer 2, Davidson, Mullins, Long

BEST 
Geelong: Morrison, Prespakis, Crockett-Grills, A.Moloney, Kennedy
Brisbane: Hickie, O'Dwyer, Dawes, Mullins

INJURIES 
Geelong: Featherston (hamstring)
Brisbane: Davidson (concussion)

Crowd: 2,850 at GMHBA Stadium