Stinear's Impact: How Geelong's New Coach is Revolutionizing the AFLW

Mick Stinear's move to Geelong has been a game-changer for the Cats in the AFLW season 2026. The premiership coach's shift from Melbourne has brought a new style to the team, with a focus on goal assists and sharing the ball neatly around the attacking arc.

A New Style Emerges

The reasons behind Geelong's desperation to appoint Stinear have been immediately evident. Outside of a big round one loss to two-time reigning premier North Melbourne, the Cats have found their feet in a new style. And although there have been early challenges on the injury front — the club has been forced to name top-up players in its extended squad already this year — the system itself has proved sound.

Stinear's signature stat, goal assists, has been a vital part of the team's strategy. Teams coached by Stinear have one thing in common: goal assists are a priority. Sharing the ball neatly around the attacking arc to generate the highest percentage opportunity to score has always been fundamental to how his teams work, and that has already become a feature of Geelong in 2026.

"Teams coached by Stinear have one thing in common: Goal Assists are a priority," according to Stinear's past teams' statistics. This season, the Cats average 7.8 goal assists — sitting second in the league behind only North Melbourne — and as a result, a host of other key scoring statistics have improved dramatically.

Key Players Step Up

Aishling Moloney has been a vital goal kicker for the Cats, with 1.6 goal assists per game and seven goals in the opening five games. There are a total of seven Cats averaging 0.6 goal assists or more in that time. Only two Geelong players averaged 0.6 or more goal assists across the 2025 AFLW season; Julia Crockett-Grills with 1.0, and Moloney with 0.6.

"Aishling Moloney has been a vital goal kicker for the Cats," said a source close to the team. The increased willingness to bring teammates in and create those deeper forward entries by way of looking for goal assist opportunities has resulted in Geelong kicking more than four more goals per game in 2026.

Improvement in Key Areas

The Cats have made a marginal improvement on average inside 50s, but it is what they are doing once in the arc that has been the real difference. Geelong's growing attack has seen them kick 50 goals in five games, compared to 69 across the whole of 2025.

The shift in disposal has come via the method, with a greater reliance on moving the ball by hand, and a significant increase in uncontested possession indicates greater control outside the contest.

Challenges Ahead

While there are plenty of positive signs when it comes to Geelong's attacking game, there is still room for improvement in its defensive phase. Conceding higher scores, more inside 50s, and more marks in the opposition's attacking zone, there is a vulnerability when sides can get the ball moving quickly against them.

"There is an element of high risk, high reward in the game style the Cats have employed this year," said a source close to the team. Protecting that defence more effectively is surely high on Stinear's priority list as they continue through the season.