Geelong inched closer to securing a top-four berth, with a five-goal haul from spearhead Jeremy Cameron leading to a hard-fought 31-point win over St Kilda at GMHBA Stadium.
Looking a class above their opponents all day, the Cats won 17.11 (113) to 12.10 (82) in front of a vocal home crowd of 29,985. The writing was on the wall early, as Geelong kicked four unanswered goals to start the match, and while the Saints fought back hard to stay in touch in an entertaining end-to-end battle, the home side answered every challenge.
“The game was never beyond doubt until very late, but it did feel like we had the game sort of under control or being played the way we wanted for most of it – albeit they did look a bit more dangerous than we would have liked them to,” Geelong coach Chris Scott said.
St Kilda’s engine room battled hard throughout, finishing with more clearances and contested possessions than the Cats, but Geelong’s class on the outside proved the difference.
Out-of-contract star Nasiah Wanganeen-Miler was everywhere for the Saints, using his running power to collect 36 disposals, his smarts around stoppages to win 10 clearances, and his exquisite kicking to snare two goals and set up multiple others.
But while Wanganeen-Milera was clearly the Saints’ best player, the Cats were content to back an even spread from their midfielders.
“He’s such a good kick that I think everyone would think you don’t want it in his hands too often, because good things happen off the back of it,” Scott said post-match.
“But on balance, we thought (in) that part of the ground we had an advantage.”
Max Holmes continued his excellent season with 32 disposals, while Ollie Dempsey (25 possessions) was outstanding in his 50th game.
On the inside, Tom Atkins was tough in the clinches, winning a game-high 14 contested possessions and laying nine tackles.
“Their tackles were stronger (and) they were cleaner with their head over the ball,” Saints coach Ross Lyon said post-match.
“There were too many times we didn’t make something of opportunities. That’s probably the disappointing part – whether it be a dropped mark or a fumble.”
If there was a class gap in the midfield, it was amplified by the Cats’ forwards, led by Jeremy Cameron.
The Coleman Medal leader had four goals to his name by halftime, with a sublime drop punt from a tight angle the highlight of the match, and added a fifth late in the final term.
“When Cameron’s going (he’s) the best player in Australia, (with) his ability to take opportunities,” Lyon said.
But Cameron was far from the only threat in Geelong’s forward half, with Shaun Mannagh kicking three goals from his 24 disposals, and Tyson Stengle, Patrick Dangerfield and Jack Martin each adding two. The only sour point for Geelong was an injury concern to star defender Tom Stewart, who was subbed out in the third quarter with a knee complaint.
But Scott said Stewart “just jarred it” and that the scare was unrelated to previous knee injuries.
“The strong suggestion is that he’ll be OK for next week, and hopefully that’s off the back of chopping him out a little bit earlier,” Scott said.
St Kilda has now lost six games in a row, with its most recent win coming against Melbourne in Round 12 before the Saints’ mid-season bye.
With its final five matches against sides in the bottom half of the ladder, Geelong looks well-placed to finish in the top four for the sixth time in the past seven seasons.
