Off-season signing Caitlin Thorne will make her AFLW debut as Geelong made two changes for Saturday’s crucial clash with Gold Coast.
The Queensland-raised defender arrived at the Cats as a replacement signing for ruck Erin Hoare after impressing with Box Hill in the VFLW competition, including earning selection in the 2023 Team of the Year.
Thorne is one of two inclusions for Geelong, with the experienced Georgie Rankin recalled.
They replace omitted duo Abbey McDonald and Brooke Plummer.
The meeting with the Suns starts a season-defining fortnight for Geelong, with a draw and two losses to show for its opening three rounds.
Following the trip to the Gold Coast, the Cats face three consecutive five-day breaks, with home matchups against Hawthorn and Fremantle on September 26 and October 1, respectively, before meeting the Swans in Sydney on October 6.
“We’re probably running out of games to keep drawing or losing,” Lowther said.
“We’re not certainly desperate to win, but play better than we did last week.
“I thought our first two rounds were on the right track around what we’re familiar with.
“If we get back to doing that on the weekend, hopefully, the process takes care of the outcome for us.”
The clash with the Suns marks AFLW game 50 for key forward Jackie Parry.
Parry, 28, made 22 appearances for Melbourne before joining Geelong ahead of Season 7 in 2022.
In 27 games in the Hoops, she’s kicked 21 goals to sit equal second with inaugural Cat Phoebe McWilliams.
“There’s probably moments in my career where I didn’t know I’d get to 50,” Parry said.
“So it’s a really great opportunity to reflect, and, I guess, even reminisce on some of the really cool moments, like my debut or trade down to Geelong (and) first game here.
“It’s been a pretty cool week so far.”
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GEELONG
INS: G. Rankin, C. Thorne
OUTS: Abbey McDonald, B. Plummer
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,[25] Caitlin Thorne,[18] Anna-Rose Kennedy,[10] Georgie Rankin
EMG [39] Abbey McDonald,[24] Chantal Mason,[19] Brooke Plummer
