Holmes and hosed? Geelong earn pole position on the finals grid

1 week ago 4

Geelong entered this qualifying final as a marginal favourite against a team that had beaten the Cats in their past three encounters, and which seemed to have the more formidable midfield names.

But the Cats left the MCG in pole position on the grid, better-placed than any other finalist.
They have no significant injuries, besides ruckman Rhys Stanley, whose absence was more than adequately covered by their utility nonpareil Mark Blicavs and Sam De Koning.

Connor O’Sullivan (left) and Tom Stewart celebrate Stewart’s goal.

They have virtually everyone available – even Jack Martin, who spent much of his Carlton days in the rehab group. Veterans, such as Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Stewart and Blicavs, are well-rested. Jeremy Cameron is sharp – despite squandering an opportunity to bag four or five goals (he’s on 85 for the season now).

They beat the Lions in the midfield, in the air and on the ground. They were harder in the contest, and in nailing tackles. They moved the ball more effectively.

Max Holmes embraces Oisin Mullin after the Cats booked themselves another place in a preliminary final.

Geelong’s only failing was in conversion. The margin of 38 points was as flattering to Brisbane as old photos on dating apps. They were smashed, really. Hugh McCluggage, outstanding this year, was nigh invisible around the coalface.

But for the extraordinary double-goal to Cam Rayner – the result of over-zealous umpiring and Rayner’s theatrical talent for falling over – Geelong would have stitched up their 10th preliminary final berth in 15 years (under Chris Scott) by half-time.

But the Rayner frees, which were decidedly against the flow of play, meant the half-time margin was under three goals, when our eyes told us that the Lions were as far from Geelong as Hopper’s Crossing.

Rayner’s flop-and-frees – the second gimme goal defensible given Zach Guthrie’s silly bump in Rayner’s back – provided a point of interest for the 86,364 fans in attendance, the Geelong portion of whom booed the forward whenever he went near the footy.

Max Holmes and Ollie Dempsey were probably the most influential players afield, followed by Stewart, who is back to something approaching his peak.

The capacity of the Cats to harm the opposition via the running pair of Holmes and Bailey Smith has been a theme of 2025, and in the third quarter, Holmes exploded with 10 disposals, a long-running goal from beyond the 50-metre arc, and another he gift-wrapped for Martin from close to 60 metres away.

Dempsey booted three goals, his best a half-volley on the goal line that had a soccer striker’s touch.
For the Lions, the worst came late in the game when Lachie Neale suffered a suspected calf strain/tear. It’s hard to see Neale playing any further finals this year, even if the Lions can overcome Freo/Gold Coast and then Collingwood in the prelim.

It would be overstating matters to say that Geelong beat up Brisbane. But the Cats did play with more intensity and force around the ball. Their pressure – evident in the tackle count (80 to 64) – bespoke a team that had either more energy or aggression.

“The boys around the ball were phenomenal,” said Stewart, who also drilled a long goal from outside 50 metres.

“Their [Brisbane’s] hands and their exit from stoppage is as good as there is in the comp. So it’s one thing to plan for it, but the way the boys pressured and got after them was absolutely phenomenal.”

Lachie Neale’s season will be almost certainly over if his calf injury is a significant one.

So, the Cats have another fortnight’s rest before their preliminary final. Consider that they’ve played 15 prelims since Essendon’s last penultimate finals appearance (2001).

“It helps – especially if you’re as old as I am. It’s always nice having an extra couple of days, even just a mental refresh,” said Stewart of the double-break.

Geelong’s relatively soft run into September - the sheer lack of top eight opponents - has been a topic and prompted a discussion of whether tis better to have the hard road, against the finalists, as the Lions had, or not.

Stewart felt this was for others to discuss. ″⁣You can only play what’s in front of you. It’s as honest as we can be. It wasn’t even about who we were playing necessarily. Scotty’s amazing at sort of setting it up so you try to get your game in the best order that you possibly can.″⁣

Judged on how they dispatched the patchy Lions, the Cats are fast approaching that best possible order.