Geelong’s premiership defence is lastly gathering steam after crushing Essendon by 77 factors in an ominous efficiency at GMHBA Stadium.
As they usually do at Kardinia Park, the Cats ended the competition early after slamming via the opening seven targets of the match to guide by 46 factors at quarter-time on Saturday.
Shell-shocked Essendon have been capable of regular in the course of the second time period but it surely was already too late because the Cats inflicted additional ache in the course of the 18.14 (122) to 7.3 (45) triumph.
The outcome lifts Geelong as much as fifth – the best place they’ve sat in all season after dropping the opening three matches of their flag defence.
The sight of a rampaging Cats unit will strike concern into the remainder of the AFL, after coach Chris Scott in the course of the week declared “they are the danger”.
Scott mentioned it was “probably” Geelong’s finest efficiency of the season.
“I think, we’re in general, getting closer to our best footy, and even from a personal perspective, we were confident going into this week,” he mentioned.
“It feels like we’re getting close to our best footy which we’re pretty confident that’s going to be hard to beat.”
Geelong might nonetheless pinch a top-four spot and a double finals likelihood as they sit only a game-and-a-half behind Melbourne.
It isn’t any coincidence one of many Cats’ strongest performances got here in a match when star ahead Jeremy Cameron, Norm Smith medallist Isaac Smith and premiership defender Jake Kolodjashni returned from damage.
Cameron, who missed the earlier two video games via concussion, spent intervals off the bottom after being concerned in a number of collisions.
The 30-year-old performed out the match and waited till the dying levels to kick his first and solely purpose of the match.
But fellow star Cats ahead Tom Hawkins picked up the slack with 5 targets, 4 of them within the second-half.
Speedy midfielder Max Holmes had the most effective video games of his younger profession, gathering a career-high 33 disposals – 21 within the first half.
Geelong ahead Gryan Miers, in his one hundredth recreation, booted the primary purpose of the match and delivered a memorable celebration after being on the centre of a meme evaluating him to soccer legend Lionel Messi this week.
While the Cats pulled out get together methods, Essendon have been on the tip of their heaviest defeat since shedding to Port Adelaide by 84 factors in spherical 22 final season – the match that ended Ben Rutten’s stint as coach.
The Bombers entered the match on a excessive after smashing Essendon final week in a efficiency captain Zach Merrett labelled because the Bombers’ finest in his 10 years on the membership.
“Clearly we were really disappointed after a good performance last week but it’s just more evidence to me that it’s a really tough competition,” Essendon coach Brad Scott mentioned.
“It’s hard to believe they were sitting in eighth position starting this round, they were clearly the best team we’ve played all year.”
Essendon defender Jayden Laverde (ankle) was substituted out of the match within the third quarter however the Bombers are assured his damage is barely minor.
Geelong head to the Gabba subsequent Saturday for a monster conflict with the Brisbane Lions, whereas Essendon will face the Western Bulldogs in an important top-eight match at Marvel Stadium on Friday night time.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
