IS GEELONG'S midfield now matching it with the very best?

The Cats have had a somewhat rocky start to their AFLW journey since 2019, when they invested in high-quality youth and VFLW and local talent.

But in season seven, things are starting to click, and it's stemming from the middle of the ground.

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Geelong's core consists of two-time best and fairest Amy McDonald, last year's No.2 draft pick Georgie Prespakis and Becky Webster, who was selected with pick No.7 in 2018.

They have two dedicated wingers in Mikayla Bowen – the ex-Eagle was West Coast's inaugural underage academy signing – and Nina Morrison, who went at pick No.1 in Webster's draft.

Morrison has already had two knee reconstructions since 2019, but is finally starting to develop some consistent footy, and is the Cats' first on-ball rotation if needed.

Chloe Scheer has also attended some centre bounces when the Cats have been looking for an extra physical punch, while Renee Garing now waits in the wings, having given birth to son Parker just four months ago.

The Cats average the second-most disposals (237) in the competition behind the powerful Melbourne and the third-most marks (45).

By comparison, last season's struggles were epitomised by averaging the second-least disposals (193.4) and fewest marks (28.7), albeit in a competition with four fewer sides.

It's been an extraordinary turnaround, and they're doing it all without dominance from ruck Liv Fuller (and occasionally Kalani Scoullar), sitting 15th for hitouts.

Using average figures from the top three midfielders in the strongest teams – as judged by frequency of centre bounce attendances – Geelong is stacking up very well, although goals from the midfielders is an area of improvement.

Adelaide – Ebony Marinoff, Anne Hatchard, Chelsea Randall
Brisbane – Emily Bates, Ally Anderson, Cathy Svarc
Collingwood – Jaimee Lambert, Chloe Molloy, Mikala Cann
Geelong – McDonald, Prespakis, Webster
Melbourne – Eliza West, Tyla Hanks, Liv Purcell
North Melbourne – Jas Garner, Jenna Bruton, Ash Riddell
Richmond – Monique Conti, Sarah Hosking, Ellie McKenzie
Western Bulldogs – Ellie Blackburn, Kirsty Lamb, Jess Fitzgerald

The personnel for the Cats hasn't changed – last season saw McDonald, Prespakis and Webster attend the most centre bounces for the team – but the improvement has been astonishing.

But on the back of Prespakis' two-match suspension for a dangerous tackle, can the Geelong midfielders keep it up against the Western Bulldogs and Essendon?