Geelong won an AFLW final for the first time in its history, outworking and outclassing Essendon to secure an 18-point elimination final win on Sunday afternoon. 

The Cats started like a house on fire, booting three goals in the opening eight minutes of the match to set up the 7.9 (51) to 5.3 (33) victory at GMHBA Stadium.

Essendon mounted an impressive fightback in the final term, reducing the 38-point three-quarter time margin, but ultimately fell short by 18 points.

Young Cat Georgie Prespakis was the star of the show, amassing 23 disposals and a goal throughout the contest. Her ability to extract the ball at the source and then burst out of stoppage with speed was a sight to behold.  

The Bombers looked stunned early in what was the club's first AFLW final in just their second season, and Geelong capitalised on its early dominance.  

The Cats were too strong across the ground, winning the disposal count (250-201), inside 50s (35-24) and contested possessions (103-97). They also had the ascendancy in the uncontested possession count (+40), with the Cats holding their shape well at the contest.  

Bombers young gun Amber Clarke was stretchered off the ground with a suspected concussion in the opening term, but returned to the contest after passing a head injury assessment. 

Essendon hit the scoreboard early in the second quarter after Sophie Alexander was walked to the goal square following a 50m penalty, but the Cats put any hint of a Bombers surge to bed, booting four of the next five goals.  

Amy McDonald (21 disposals, 11 tackles) was outstanding for the Cats and Nina Morrison (20 disposals) provided strong support to Prespakis and McDonald around the ground. 

Becky Webster was terrific in defence, constantly repelling any Geelong forays forward, and finished with 23 possessions. 

Georgia Nanscawen (21 disposals, eight tackles) tried hard all day for the Bombers, whilst co-captain Bonnie Toogood (19 disposals, seven marks) also worked tirelessly. 

GEELONG         3.4    7.7    7.9    7.9 (51)
ESSENDON       0.1    2.1    2.1    5.3 (33)

GOALS
Geelong: A. Moloney 2, Parry, Scheer, Crockett-Grills, A. McDonald, G. Prespakis 
Essendon: M. Prespakis 2, Alexander, Toogood, Gamble 

BEST
Geelong: G. Prespakis, A. McDonald, A. Moloney, Webster, Morrison, Parry
Essendon: M. Prespakis, Nanscawen, Toogood, Alexander 

INJURIES
Geelong: Scheer (shoulder) 
Essendon: Nil 

Reports: Nil 

Crowd: 6,493 at GMHBA Stadium