RISING Geelong defender Millie Brown's growth has no ceiling, according to All-Australian teammate Meg McDonald.

Brown, the Cats' first pick in last year's draft, paired with McDonald for the first time at NAB AFL Women's level on Sunday as the Cats fell to Adelaide by 11 points

Having been sidelined with a broken finger for the first two rounds of the season, McDonald watched on as her new 19-year-old key defensive teammate starred.

"Millie has grown with every performance and it is really pleasing to have her down there playing a similar role to me," McDonald said post-match on Sunday.

"She is three games in so who is to say (what her ceiling is?.

"She is a jet, she has a fantastic physique for full-back and is very calm with the ball.

"The young talent across our list is awesome and I am 28 now so I am hoping to hold on until they are in their prime because it is scary to think how good all of them will be."

McDonald, Geelong's reigning best and fairest, admitted she took a quarter to adapt to the speed of the match against the Crows. 

Originally planning to return in round four, she defied the odds to play inside three-and-a-half weeks following finger surgery.

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"It will continue to strengthen. I played with a guard and tape on it today, not ideal, but fine to play with. I'm three-and-a-half weeks since the surgery, so they say 4-6 until it's totally fine.

"I think there's risk every time you go out there, it wouldn't have felt great if I'd fallen over and someone stomped on it.

"I wasn't hesitant at all, very happy with the medical staff and very happy with how I got through."

Buoyed by the performance against the Crows – described as arguably the Cats' best in their two-year history by coach Paul Hood – the Cats tackle Richmond on Saturday in Bendigo.

With both sides looking for their first win, McDonald anticipates she'll match-up on Richmond spearhead Sabrina Frederick against the Tigers.