‘Cunning plan’: Cat’s ‘unintentional’ trick play stuns amid HUGE boilover — AFLW Wrap

An unintentional yet stunning goal was the highlight of an incredible Geelong boilover win over Brisbane.

Plus North Melbourne’s latest statement win as Collingwood hosts Adelaide.

All the scores and news from Sunday’s action in our AFLW Wrap!

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GEELONG 7.5 (47) defeated BRISBANE LIONS 5.7 (37)

Geelong has kept its finals hopes alive with a gutsy 10-point win over Brisbane who had its star forward exit the game in a horror blow on Sunday.

The Cats kicked the first three goals before Dakota Davidson got the Lions on the board to end the run but the two-time premiership forward later got concussed in the second term and was ruled out of the game in a big moment.

The Cats scored the next two goals to kick five of the first six majors before star midfielder Nina Morrison made it a game-high 24-point lead late in the third term as the home side held on in the final term for a 7.5 (47) to 5.7 (37) win at GMHBA Stadium.

Morrison also had a game-high 24 disposals and a goal assist in one of her best performances of the season while teammate Georgie Prespakis had 20 disposals and 10 clearances in another top performance. Tall forward Aishling Moloney continued her brilliant campaign with two goals to help keep the Cats in the hunt for finals as their record improves to a 3-5 with two games to go.

Moloney said she was pleased to get the win following a narrow seven-point loss to Richmond last week and a season where they drew to premiership favourite North Melbourne earlier in week two.

“This year hasn’t really been our year,” Moloney said post-game.

“We felt like we have done ourselves unjust throughout the year, we didn’t kick home in some matches we have had.

“I mean look, we are a slim chance now of finals.

“For us winning that today meant our pride is on the line as a football club.

“It just means so much to this group because the last few weeks have been tough but we stuck together and finally got this win.”

The loss for the Lions see their record fall to 7-2 as they stand in third position on the ladder.

BOWEN SPECIAL

Cats forward Mikayla Bowen kicked a hysterical but crucial goal for her side late in the second term.

After taking an intercept mark at half forward, the 23-year-old went back the wrong way behind the mark before fortuitously being called to play on where she ran in to kick a major from 40 metres out and put the Cats up 31-9.

“It wasn’t intentional, but it turned out to be a very cunning plan,” Jason Bennett said in commentary.

“Mikayla Bowen got completely confused as to which way she was supposed to be kicking it. (Brisbane’s) Poppy Bolts said ‘nah, nah, you’re going the wrong way’ and quite rightly the umpire said play on and away went Mikayla.”

The Lions got one back just before halftime through Orla O’Dwyer to cut the deficit to 15 points at the main break.

MASSIVE LOSS

Lions star Dakota Davidson was ruled out of the game due to concussion after landing heavily on the surface in a marking contest early in the second quarter.

The two-time Lions leading goalkicker and premiership player came from the field immediately after the knock despite having a set-shot opportunity.

It is another disappointing blow for the 25-year-old who was previously concussed in the pre-season of 2023 and in 2022.

Cats tall Gabby Featherstone was also ruled out of the game soon after Davidson with a hamstring injury.

LATE SCARE

After Aishling Moloney kicked her second goal of the game to put the Cats up by 23 points early in the fourth and her side proceeded to keep the game goalless for the next 10 minutes, everyone was backing in the Cats to get over the line comfortably.

But the Lions went bang with an Orla O’Dwyer goal with 3:51 left before Evie Long scored her first AFLW goal 18 seconds later to cut the Lions deficit to 11 points.

Eleanor Hartill could have made it another 18 seconds later although her shot on the run on a slight angle missed to the left.

After the flurry of forward play for the reigning premiers, the Cats eventually held strong at home to claim the win.

“They are an incredible team,” Moloney said about the Lions late fightback.

“I remember my hardest game last year was playing Brisbane and I have to say my hardest game again this year was playing Brisbane.

“They are so athletic, they bring the fight, they are the Lions at the end of the day.”

— NCA NewsWire