Geelong will be without gun midfielder Georgie Prespakis for Saturday’s clash with Carlton at IKON Park.
The Cats have reported the issue as a quad injury, which kept Prespakis out of the practice match against Essendon.
Irish hard-nut Rachel Kearns returns after being a late withdrawal from the draw with North Melbourne.
Geelong enters the clash chasing its maiden win of 2024 in the first meeting with the Blues since Round 2 of the first 2022 AFLW season.
Carlton is coming off a thrilling one-point win over the Gold Coast in Mackay.
“I went and watched them in their first practice match this year, and from the start, they were strong around the footy, great at ground balls, and their tackle pressure through the midfield was good,” Cats coach Daniel Lowther said.
“They have a really good combination around the midfield that have a strong output, so we need to be on our game in that battle.
“Obviously, with their tall players, too, they are pretty formidable down forward.
“Watching the vision over the past couple of weeks, they are adaptable and strong, so we have to be on our game this week.”
Saturday’s match starts at 2:35pm.
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GEELONG
INS: R. Kearns
OUTS: G. Prespakis
FB: [16] Chantel Emonson,[26] Claudia Gunjaca
HB: [21] Rebecca Webster,[11] Meghan McDonald,[22] Rachel Kearns
C: [20] Zali Friswell,[9] Nina Morrison,[6] Julia Crockett-Grills
HF: [1] Mikayla Bowen,[5] Jacqueline Parry,[7] Kate Surman
FF: [45] Aishling Moloney,[12] Kate Kenny
FOL: [8] Kate Darby,[3] Amy McDonald,[4] Darcy Moloney
IC: [32] Gabbi Featherston,[15] Shelley Scott,[19] Brooke Plummer,[39] Abbey McDonald,[18] Anna-Rose Kennedy
EMG: [10] Georgie Rankin,[24] Chantal Mason,[25] Caitlin Thorne
