Geelong coach Paul Hood is looking forward to some selection headaches for the round-two clash with the Western Bulldogs after the Cats' start to life in the AFLW with a thrilling one-point win over Collingwood.
No.1 draft pick Nina Morrison was the star of the show, racking up a game-high 22 disposals, laying eight tackles and kicking the winning point for good measure.
The Cats were without several of their biggest names, including injured skipper Melissa Hickey, still recovering from a knee reconstruction, and suspended star recruit Richelle Cranston.
Phoebe McWilliams was also a late withdrawal from Saturday's game at GMHBA Stadium after suffering hamstring soreness at training.
"We had a look at that and it wasn't quite right to go," said Hood.
"We're not sure of the extent of it but we're really hopeful that she will be up for next week."
Georgia Clarke will be available for selection against the Bulldogs and Erin Hoare will also be pushing her case to break into a winning side.
"We'll have some selection headaches and that's a really healthy thing for us," said Hood.
"(And) Melissa Hickey is not far away.
"I can't give you an exact answer because it's not an exact science but she's moving pretty well and we expect her to be back in the short term."
Hickey is related to Geelong legend and Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee Reg Hickey.
The Magpies pressed hard for a winning goal in the dying minutes of Saturday's match but were unable to find a way through the Geelong defence.
The Magpies were well served by tough onballer Jaimee Lambert and cross-code star Ashleigh Brazill, who plays AFLW and Super Netball for the club.
Lambert made an early bid for goal of the year with an audacious snap off the outside of her right foot in the third quarter, only minutes after hobbling from the ground having received a painful kick to the shin.
"She's one of the toughest players at our football club," said Magpies coach Wayne Siekman.
"She just gets up and goes again and gives her all.
"I reckon a lot of players in our team would look up to her and say 'well that's the model. If you want to be a really good footballer, hard and tough, you take Jaimee Lambert.'"
