GEORGIA Clarke hopes Geelong’s best start to an AFLW season is rewarded with a big crowd for Saturday’s GMHBA Stadium clash with fellow unbeaten team Collingwood.
In what looms as the top-of-the-ladder Cats’ biggest home-and-away match since their competition debut in 2019, Clarke hopes the momentum from the men’s win over the Magpies in the AFL qualifying final can be carried into Round 3 for the women.
“It’s good to beat Collingwood once, but it’s going to be even better to beat them twice,” Clarke said.
“If you want to see an exciting game, definitely get down because I think it’s going to be a very, very good game to watch, and even better to have it here as well.”
Geelong will have four home games at most at GMHBA Stadium this season, with cricket’s men’s T20 World Cup putting the ground out of action from late September until late October.
After they meet with Collingwood, the Cats host St Kilda on Thursday, September 22.
Dan Lowther’s team will play a ‘home’ game against the West Coast Eagles in Round 8 at Ikon Park.
While Geelong is listed as the home team for the Round 10 meeting with Sydney, but the venue is yet to be confirmed.
As a result, Clarke said it’s important for the Cats, who defeated Richmond at home in Round 1, to make the most of their matches at GHMBA Stadium.
“Games here are very special; we get a crowd that’s like no other,” she said. “It’s got us over the line before; against West Coast last year.
“I think to have games here is very important because we just get such a good fanbase coming through, and we definitely notice them out there. We did, especially (in the) first round.
“It’s important to get these (games) over the line because games at different venues can be a whole different game; you just never know.”
Former Eagle Mikayla Bowen says the positive start builds on last season.
“What the group’s been able to carry on from, and generate in Season 6, has been able to transfer across to Season 7, obviously, in a very positive way to start off with,” she said.
“We’ll do our best to take it up to Collingwood as well this weekend.”
Twitter: @krockfootball
