The Southern Saints’ 2021 campaign has come to an end after going down to Geelong by seven points in Saturday’s semi-final at GMHBA Stadium.

The Saints held the advantage heading into the main break before the hard-hitting Cats upped the ante to claw their way back and secure the 6.4 (40) to 5.3 (33) result.

Four goals to Georgia Clarke – two of which were kicked in the final term – put the home side in a commanding position late in the match, while the Cats’ physicality and hunt on the inside was equally defining in the result.

Majors to Gabriella De Angelis and Kayla Ripari in the last quarter drew the Saints within a point on two separate occasions, but Clarke and the Cats timed their responses perfectly to keep the red, white and black at bay.

Hannah Stuart again drove the engine room for the Saints with 20 disposals and eight tackles, while Alice Burke held firm in the defensive end to close out her afternoon with 23 touches nine rebound-50s – more than double the amount of any other player on the field.

A crafty banana from Jess Matin in the pocket got the Saints off to the perfect start to the game, but Geelong's clean breaks from centre bounce – led by Webster – forced the Southern Saints' defence into overdrive.

The Cats pinned the ball in their offensive half to register almost twice the number of inside-50s to their opposition, eventually claiming the lead for the first time midway through the third term via Paige Sheppard.

The Saints had their chances in the dying minutes, but Clarke and Webster were vital in snuffing out any hopes of a last-gasp resurgence.

Geelong will play for a place in the VFLW Grand Final against Collingwood when they face Essendon in next week’s preliminary final.

GEELONG  0.2  1.4  3.4  6.4 (40)
SOUTHERN SAINTS  1.2  3.3  3.3  5.3 (33)

GOALS
Geelong: Clarke 4, Sheppard, Webster
Southern Saints: De Angelis 2, Matin, Peck, Ripari

BEST
Geelong: Webster, Clarke, Garing, Sheppard, Keryk, Johnson
Southern Saints: Stuart, Smith, Burke, De Angelis, Capsalis, Joliffe