Kuwarna has secured its place in the top four with a come-from-behind win over Geelong by four points at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night.
Kuwarna recovered from a slow first half, trailing by 14 points at half-time, to defeat the home side 4.8 (32) to 4.4 (28) in front of a vocal crowd of 2,233.
It was a game of two halves, with Geelong starting the game with flare and ferocity knowing its season was on the line.
A win for the Cats would have kept them in finals contention but a loss meant their season was over, and from the first bounce it was plain to see that Geelong didn't want this to be its last game for the season.
The home side played with purpose and pace in the opening half, using run and carry and handball receives off half-back to open the game up and get quick entries into their dangerous forwards.
Geelong's Zali Friswell (17 disposals, 10 handball receives) and Becky Webster (23 disposals, 556m gained) led the way, putting speed on the ball through the middle and catching Adelaide's defenders off-guard.
It wasn't long before the Cats were on the board, with Georgie Prespakis opening the scoring with one of her signature right foot bananas from the front and centre of a marking contest.
Up the other end, Kurwana's goal kicking woes continued from last week, scoring four behinds from its four shots on goal in the first quarter.
The Cats on the other hand continued to add to their goal tally with veteran Shelley Scott and small forward Kate Surman adding majors to start the second term.
Eight minutes into the second quarter, Kuwarna finally got its first when reliable tall Caitlin Gould converted from a set shot directly in front.
But momentum quickly shifted back to the Cats when 50-gamer Nina Morrison (25 disposals, 10 tackles) showed her dash through the middle of the ground and was pushed when she kicked, giving a down-field free kick to Jackie Parry. Parry's goal extended the Cats' lead to 14 points at the main break.
A different looking Kuwarna came out after the half-time, applying greater pressure around the ball and converting from their opportunities in front of goal.
They kicked the only two goals of the third term through Gould and Anne Hatchard (22 disposals), giving them a one-point buffer heading into the final term.
The visitors looked home when Gould kicked her third to start the final term and extend the lead, but the Cats continued to charge with the help of the home crowd cheering on loudly from the sidelines.
While the Cats continued to push in the dying stages, they were unable to score a major with Kuwarna holding on to win by four points.
The win was soured somewhat with an ankle injury late to classy ball-winner Danielle Ponter.
Ponter's leg appeared to get tangled in a contest, with the 24-year-old taken from the ground in the hands of trainers.
GEELONG 1.1 4.1 4.1 4.4 (28)
KUWARNA 0.4 1.5 3.8 4.8 (32)
GOALS
Geelong: Prespakis, Scott, Surman, Parry
Kuwarna: Gould 3, Hatchard
BEST
Geelong: Webster, Friswell, Prespakis, Morrison, Parry
Kuwarna: Marinoff, Prowse, Gould, Biddell, Hatchard, J.Allan
INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Kuwarna: Ponter (foot)
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 2,233 at GMHBA Stadium
