The VFLW Cats were handed a tough defeat in the opening round of the 2025 season, falling to the Box Hill Hawks by 58 points in a high-stakes encounter on Saturday. Despite the loss, Geelong showed significant promise in their first outing, taking to the field with a revamped squad against a seasoned Hawks team. The match was a test of resilience and potential, as the Cats displayed impressive fight, especially given the inexperience of some players compared to their opponents.
Several key performances stood out, including last year’s best and fairest winner, Lily Jordan, who finished with 13 disposals. Abby Favell also played a crucial role, contributing nine tackles to apply pressure on the Hawks’ attack. New recruit Jemima Woods marked the start of her Geelong career by scoring the first goal for the team. The newly appointed captain, Melanie Staunton, showcased her leadership with a standout performance, gathering 20 disposals, nine tackles, and three clearances, proving her ability to lead from the front in challenging circumstances.
Geelong faced early pressure from the Hawks, but Staunton’s four tackles and Simone Nalder’s three intercepts helped to disrupt Box Hill’s offensive momentum. Breanna Pratt, last year’s runner-up for best and fairest, led the offensive effort with two score involvements, while Lily Jordan and Sophie Mahar controlled the wings, providing a steady influence throughout the game. However, the Hawks capitalized on their strong start, kicking three goals in the opening term to leave the Cats trailing by 16 points at the first break.
The Cats responded well in the second quarter, with Woods kicking a goal from 40 meters out to ignite Geelong’s momentum. Brooke Bailey and Zoe Cowan worked tirelessly through the midfield, and the ball found its way to Stephanie O’Kane, who added another goal for the Cats. Despite these efforts, Geelong still trailed by 23 points at halftime, facing a challenging gap to close in the second half.
The third term saw the teams trade goals early on, with Hayley Peck and Poppy Schaap both getting their names on the scoreboard for Geelong. However, Box Hill managed to push their lead further, adding two goals late in the quarter to extend their advantage to 34 points heading into the final term.
In the last quarter, Geelong’s defense stiffened, with Lucy Marescuk and Mekah Morrissy each recording six intercept possessions to stem the Hawks’ offensive flow momentarily. Despite this defensive effort, the pressure continued to mount, and the Hawks managed to break away late in the game, kicking four unanswered goals to seal a commanding 58-point victory.
Although the Cats were outclassed on the scoreboard, they fought hard, leading the tackle count (+22) by the end of the match. This intensity, along with several positive individual performances, will provide plenty of takeaways for new coach Taylah Hassett as she looks to build on the season’s opening contest. Geelong will now shift their focus to next Saturday, aiming to secure their first win of the year when they face Carlton in round two at Deakin University.
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