Brisbane Lions spearhead Jesse Wardlaw announced herself to the rest of the NAB AFL Women's competition on Sunday, booting three goals in the Lions' 19-point win over Geelong.
The exciting forward made the most of Brisbane's inside 50 dominance (39-14) to propel her side to a 6.3 (39) to 3.2 (20) come-from-behind victory at GMHBA Stadium.
Despite leading by 11 points at half-time, the Cats were swamped around the contest after the main break to fall to their second successive loss to start the season.
Brisbane midfielders Emily Bates (22 disposals) and Sophie Conway (15 disposals, eight tackles) wore down their younger Cats opponents as the Lions reclaimed top spot in Conference A.
The Lions kicked five unanswered goals in the second half, including three in the third term as they smashed the Cats around clearances (10-3).
Geelong teenagers Nina Morrison (18 disposals), Olivia Purcell (two goals) and Millie Brown (18 disposals) held their own in front of 5567 fans for the Cats' first home game of the season.
Tawhiao-Wardlaw and Brown enjoyed a fascinating battle, however the Cats' father-daughter draftee offered plenty of run off half-back as her opponent kicked three goals.
Lions tall Dakota Davidson marked her first ever AFLW goal in style, side-stepping her Geelong opponent and kicking truly before taking off on a soccer-like celebration late in the third term.
The Cats attempted to address their -35 inside 50 from round one during the week but again struggled to convert entries and failed to take a mark inside 50 for the entire match.
GEELONG 2.1 3.1 3.1 3.2 (20)
BRISBANE 1.0 1.2 4.3 6.3 (39)
GOALS
Geelong: Purcell 2, Higgins
Brisbane: Tawhiao-Wardlaw 3, Conway, Davidson, Bodey
BEST
Geelong: Purcell, Brown, Morrison, Webster, McDonald
Brisbane: Conway, Bates, Tawhiao-Wardlaw, Anderson, Bodey, Moloney
