Killer Cats pounce on Hawks to go second on AFLW ladder

Geelong have brought Hawthorn crashing back to earth and surged to second place on the AFLW ladder with a comprehensive 36-point victory.

The Hawks were on a high after last week becoming the first team in more than 1000 days to beat back-to-back premiers North Melbourne.

But Geelong kicked five of six opening-quarter goals to seize early control and never looked troubled in a 12.10 (82) to 7.4 (46) win, their sixth on the bounce, at GMHBA Stadium on Thursday.

Georgie Prespakis (29 disposals, seven clearances, 655 metres gained), Nina Morrison (21 disposals, including 19 first-half touches) and Mikayla Bowen (24 disposals) were wonderful.

Geelong's ball movement, with skilful running and linking by hand, tore the Hawks apart and underlined the Cats' premiership credentials.

The Cats' forwards shared the love, with Jacqueline Parry (three goals, six marks), Rachel Kearns (two goals), Chloe Scheer (two goals) and Ash Stewart (two goals) hitting the scoreboard.

"Massive. I think we're one of the best teams in the competition," Scheer told the Seven Network.

"Obviously they beat North, who is one of the best teams in the competition

Hawthorn stand-in skipper Eliza West (23 disposals, six clearances) didn't give up all night, with support from Laura Elliott (20), while Aine McDonagh and Jac Dupuy kicked two goals apiece.

Hawk Jasmine Fleming was injured in the fourth quarter, and Geelong's Alexis Gregor was concussed in the first half.

Mick Stinear's charges (6-1) are only behind his former club Melbourne on the ladder, while Hawthorn (4-3) sit ninth.

Geelong flew out of the blocks, dominating clearances, with Morrison and Prespakis leading the way.

Stewart kicked two goals in succession, including finishing off a terrific team end-to-end effort to deliver a 25-point lead at quarter-time.

The Cats didn't slow down in the second term, pouncing on Hawthorn's turnovers at will and adding two unanswered goals to lead by 42 at the main change.