Collingwood have survived a massive fright against winless Geelong on Friday night to emerge from GMHBA Stadium with a hard-fought 11-point AFLW win.
The Cats were rank outsiders heading into the contest, but paid little regard to the Magpies' status as one of the premiership favourites.
For the third week in a row Geelong made life very tough for their opponents by applying significant pressure, out-tackling Collingwood 69-62.
The Cats finished with more forward entries (28-21), but yet again, their lack of polish in attack cost them dearly, and when Julia Crockett-Grills gifted Collingwood star Chloe Molloy a goal from a 50m penalty, after a lapse in concentration by encroaching the protected area, it proved a match-deciding moment.
Three minutes later, Geelong's last chance at a win went up in smoke when Georgie Rankin missed a shot on goal from directly in front, as the more efficient Magpies ran out 5.5 (35) to 3.6 (24) winners to extend their undefeated start to the year to three matches.
For all their hard work so far this season, and despite regaining the services of big guns Nina Morrison, Sophie Van De Heuvel, Crockett-Grills and Rankin, who all sat out last round due to COVID protocols, Geelong (0-3) remain winless. They have now lost 12 of their last 13 games, having only won six of 25 matches since entering the competition in 2019.
Collingwood's Jaimee Lambert was opposed Georgie Prespakis (11 disposals) for most of the night in the midfield, and towelled up the Geelong young gun as she helped herself to a game-high 21 touches (12 contested), nine clearances and seven tackles to be the standout.
Amy McDonald shone for the Cats with 20 disposals (12 contested) and 12 tackles.
Just as they did last week against Carlton, the Cats had the ascendancy early on with eight of the first 11 inside 50s, but unlike their round two match, they were able to exploit that advantage by taking a three-point lead early in the second quarter.
Collingwood responded strongly and after Magpies Sophie Alexander and Molloy missed a couple of straightforward set shots, Eliza James and Alexander combined to put them up by 12 points midway through the second term.
Geelong forward Kate Darby cut the deficit to a goal before halftime and could've levelled things up early in the third stanza, but dropped a chest mark in the goal square.
The Cats ramped up the pressure again after the major break but for all their effort just couldn't get their noses in front and after the Pies kept them at bay, Molloy rewarded the visitors by giving them an 11-point buffer just before three-quarter time.
Geelong came hard again in the final term but the hosts' dreams of a famous upset win were dashed when Molloy booted her second major.
