AFL 2024: Geelong’s thrilling loss against Greater Western Sydney masks serious issues

It wasn’t the free kick count or unlucky moments late that cost Geelong a win. And the themes were similar to their previous three losses.

The Cats walk off after another close loss. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

For the second consecutive game at GMHBA Stadium, Geelong waited until the game appeared over to come to life.

The comeback started with their newly trialled three-pronged forward line.

Held to one goal between them in the first two and a half quarters, record-breaker Tom Hawkins, Jeremy Cameron and newcomer Shannon Neale kicked three goals in succession to give the Cats a fighting chance, cutting a 31-point deficit to 13-points at three-quarter-time.

Cameron’s goal was set-up by a deft pass from Hawkins, who ended a form slump with an impressive performance up against the best key defender in the game in Sam Taylor.

Geelong laid just 31 tackles to three-quarter-time. They nearly doubled that by laying a further 30 in the final term.

The Cats pumped the ball inside their attacking arc 24 times to five in a red-hot and enthralling final term where the home side took the lead after fourt consecutive goals.

But the Giants’ rock-solid defence held firm, with inclusion Leek Aleer providing the game-saving moment with a minute left on the clock.

Tom Hawkins impressed in the loss. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

While the Cats faithful may think a lopsided free kick count and some unlucky moments cost them, the tight loss masked major midfield and defensive concerns that reared their head again in the first half.

And the scoreboard flattered them at three-quarter-time.

In a relatively even first quarter, the Cats kicked five goals through moments of brilliance.

Tanner Bruhn and Max Holmes and Zach Tuohy all launched goals from outside 50, Jake Kolodjashnij bended home the fourth goal of his career with an unlikely finish, and Hawkins slotted one through tucked up against the right-side boundary – as the games record-holder has done countless times in his 356 games.

Meanwhile, the Giants managed 2.4 to quarter time despite having a reasonable amount of the play. But the dam wall burst in the second term.

GWS took the ball out of the middle with relative ease, smashing the Cats 14-4 in clearances in the second quarter alone.

The midfield battle was so one-sided that the home crowd let out a Bronx cheer when Geelong won a rare centre-clearance.

This was against a Giants on-ball brigade without Josh Kelly, while Stephen Coniglio was subbed out in the second quarter with injury.

And when they got the ball to the outside the Cats were powerless to stop it.

The ease in which GWS was able to get shots on goal was alarming.

The Giants took 11 marks inside 50 in the first half – their average in an entire match this year is 14.

Key forward trio Jesse Hogan, Jake Riccardi, Aaron Cadman and Xavier O’Halloran all kicked goals from marks inside 50 in the second term.

The Cats managed just three marks inside 50 for the half themselves – a testament to the Giants defence led by Sam Taylor and Connor Idun, who kept Jeremy Cameron scoreless to halftime.

Another two uncontested marks in their attacking arc later and that 19-point lead was out to five goals early in the third quarter.

That costly period consigned the Cats to their fourth consecutive loss.

Their best is as good as any, but their worst is poor. And there will be plenty more losses to come if they can’t fix this inconsistency within games.

KEY SIGNINGS

Free agents Tyson Stengle, Jake Kolodjashnij and Jack Henry all remain out of contract.

After locking down Max Holmes – who has become arguably their most influential player – on a long-term deal, the unsigned trio’s displays against the Giants highlighted how much the Cats need them.

And they will be hoping they can get those signatures sooner rather than later, as their value is rising by the week.

Tyson Stengle celebrates a goal. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

Stengle has recaptured his breakout 2022 form with 21 goals in his first ten games 10 games. He was goalless to three-quarter-time against the Giants but still managed to have a major say.

The livewire he sparked the Cats’ final term fightback with back-to-back goals.

Unlike Stengle, Kolodjashnij’s form has gone under the radar, but the underrated Cats defender has been similarly crucial in 2024.

There was his early goal, but his intercepting and one-percenters also stood out, manning a range of opponents from Toby Greene to Jesse Hogan.

Fellow defender Henry was so important for the Cats in the final quarter.

The hybrid defender was beaten at times in 1-on-1 contests against the Giants, but he made up for it by taking several intercept marks in the final term.

Originally published as AFL 2024: Geelong’s thrilling loss against Greater Western Sydney masks serious issues