The Sydney Swans will compete in their second-ever NAB AFLW semi-final this Saturday at GMBHA, where they will face second-placed Geelong.
This weekend's encounter will be the first time the two sides will face off this season, having not met in the home-and-away season. Though with four previous meetings between the two sides over the course of the last five years. Sydney will be wanting to repeat the most recent encounter against the Cats and hope that the head-to-head record will not be reflected on the scoreboard come the end of the four quarters.
Here is a breakdown of the Swans' previous encounters against the Cats ahead of the next instalment on Saturday.
29th of October 2022
Geelong Cats 15.12.102 - 4.3.27 - Sydney Swans – GMHBA Stadium
The first meeting between the two sides came in the final round of the Swans' inaugural AFLW season.
Heading down to Geelong, Sydney, who were still in search of the program's first-ever win, was up against it as the Cats aimed to boost their chances of finishing inside the top four and secure a second chance within the final’s series.
Geelong kicked the first four of the game, but Sarah Skinner and Rebecca Privitelli responded with two goals for the Swans before the end of the first quarter. Sarah Dargan and Brooke Lochland would kick the Swans' final two goals in the fourth quarter, though Geelong would kick 11 majors unopposed to run away with a convincing 75-point victory.
The result saw Geelong finish the season in fifth place, two points behind the Tigers in fourth and ended Sydney’s historic first season in the AFLW.
9th of September 2023
Sydney Swans 5.11.41 - 10.6.68 Geelong Cats – North Sydney Oval
After a historic first-ever victory in the AFLW, the Sydney Swans were trying to make it two wins from two to start the new 2023 season.
In front of 2,878 fans, the Cats came out firing, kicking five goals in the opening term before Chloe Molloy, making her second appearance for the Swans, kicked the Swans' first halfway through the second while Aliesha Newman booted three goals in her 50th AFLW game.
The Swans kept the pressure on the Cats right throughout the four quarters, though it ultimately wasn’t enough as Geelong started their 2023 season 2-0 and started their push to ultimately a Preliminary Final. The defeat was just one of four that year for the Swans, who went on to finish inside the top eight for the first time in club history and reach the second week of the finals.
24th of October 2024
Sydney Swans 6.5.41 - 5.14.44 Geelong Cats – Henson Park
Both sides needed a win when they faced off in Round 6 of the 2024 season. Geelong got off to a quick start against the Swans, kicking the opening three goals to build a 3.2 to 0.2 lead at the first change.
With the breeze behind them in the second term, Sydney finally found reward on the scoreboard when Paris McCarthy, who was playing her first match of the season, kicked three goals in seven minutes, her first ever in the AFLW.
The Cats led at every change, though the Swans mounted a serious fourth-quarter challenge to reduce a game-high 21-point lead. Goals from Bella Smith and Privitelli helped reduce the deficit, and Lexi Hamilton's goal brought the Swans within four points late in the last quarter, but the Cats held on to win by three points in front of 3,127 fans at Henson Park.
30th of August 2025
Geelong Cats 6.9.45 - 7.8.50 - Sydney Swans – GMHBA Stadium
The last time Sydney and Geelong faced off, the Swans were finally able to turn the tide against the Cats and record their first-ever win over Geelong in a nail-biting game.
The Swans, who were undefeated through the opening two rounds of 2025, travelled down to Geelong and were unable to kick a goal in the opening quarter, trailing the Cats by 19 at the end of the first quarter.
The Swans would then outscore Geelong four goals to zero in the second quarter, with goals from Tanya Kennedy, Darcy Moloney, Jas Grierson and Montana Ham giving the Swans a five-point lead at half-time.
The third was a back-and-forth quarter with the Swans extending their lead to seven. Geelong roared back to life in the final minutes through Aishling Moloney but couldn't seize their chance to first draw within a point, and then pinch a draw, as Jacqueline Parry's two opportunities narrowly missed in the dying minutes.
Tune in to 7mate, Fox Footy, Kayo, 7plus or Binge from 4:00pm AEDT to catch all the action of this weekends semi-final.
Visit the AFLW Match Day Hub here for all the important information.
