Geelong continued to show impressive defensive qualities by holding Fremantle to the lowest ever score in AFLW history at a windy Fremantle Oval on Saturday.
Fremantle scored just a single point for the match in difficult conditions, a behind late in the final term, as Geelong stormed to their second win of the season by a score of 3.9 (27) to 0.1 (1).
The Cats have conceded just one goal in the opening two rounds.
Fremantle's Kiara Bowers was in her element early on, matching tackles with disposals (seven) at the end of a scoreless first quarter for both sides in which Freo dominated territory and inside 50s but could not find the space to get a significant chance on goal.
Vote here for your Crypto.com Defining Player of the match
Geelong flipped the momentum in the second quarter, driven mostly by Amy McDonald, who was at the fall of the ball regularly to collect 15 disposals, mostly hard-won handballs, to half time.
The Cats' were more aggressive through the centre corridor after quarter time, with Mikayla Bowen, Georgie Prespaskis and Zali Friswell seeing plenty of the ball.
Geelong favoured numbers around the contest while Fremantle employed a more structured approach and moved the ball along one wing, which narrowed their options to their detriment.
The Cats' Nina Morrison snapped the first goal of the game after capitalising on an errant Freo handball deep inside 50 as Geelong added scoreboard pressure to match their intensity around the ground. They took a 1.3 (9) to 0.0 (0) lead into the main break.
The ball then lived in Geelong's attacking 50 for most of the third quarter. The Cats' conversion was poor, adding five behinds, but they locked the Fremantle defence in by putting an extra player behind the play, which robbed Fremantle of valuable time, possession and flow.
Prespakis and McDonald were everywhere applying pressure, standing up in tackles and setting up their teammates with incisive handballs as they extended their lead, with Fremantle still scoreless at three quarter time.
Mim Strom partially saved Fremantle's blushes with a behind with five minutes to go in the final quarter, meaning Fremantle avoided a clean sheet.
But Geelong finished strongly to win by 26 points.
Up next
Fremantle will be desperate for their first win of the season against the Western Bulldogs on Friday evening at Ikon Park.
Geelong will hope to continue their momentum into a clash with Collingwood next week.
FREMANTLE 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 (1)
GEELONG 0.0 1.3 1. 8 3.9 (27)
GOALS
Fremantle: None
Geelong: Morrison, Crockett-Grills, Clarke
BEST
Fremantle: Bowers, Miller, Tighe, Verrier
Geelong: Amy McDonald, Prespakis, Morrison, Webster, Friswell
INJURIES
Fremantle: Gabby O'Sullivan (hamstring awareness)
Geelong: None
LATE CHANGES
Fremantle: None
Geelong: None
Reports: None
