AFL finals 2024: Patrick Dangerfield and heir apparent Max Holmes lead Geelong to blistering win over Port Adelaide

Patrick Dangerfield once said Max Holmes has ‘Judd-like traits’. They were there for all to see on the big stage as Geelong stunned the footy world without one of their biggest stars.

When the important Tom Stewart was ruled out pre-game, all hope for the Cats looked lost and all eyes turned to Patrick Dangerfield.

Sure enough, it was ‘Danger’ and his heir apparent who put on the superman cape and tore Port Adelaide’s star-studded midfield apart.

The Cats skipper himself said some years ago that speedster Max Holmes had ‘Judd-like traits’, and boy did the 22-year-old show off those on the big stage.

Holmes had nine disposals in the opening quarter alone – only his set shot from long range was ineffective – and set up two scores, one with a sizzling pass straight onto the chest of Jeremy Cameron.

Patrick Dangerfield bursts away. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Max Holmes was electric. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

With Port Adelaide right back in the contest by quarter-time, Holmes started the second term with perhaps his best moment of the night.

Head-to-head with Power superstar Zak Butters, Holmes paddled it to his advantage and burst away from Butters with ease.

Holmes went on a Sunday stroll along the wing with several bounces and Butters at full pelt couldn’t stop him, his long bomb eventually falling to the opportunistic Tyson Stengle who goaled.

His 487 metres gained, 16 disposals and six score involvements to halftime summed up his immense impact — in fact, the only point Holmes didn’t have an influence in the first half was when he got his foot re-strapped in the second term.

As the excitement machine provided the dash, the 34-year-old champion was incredibly relentless.

A couple of incredible plays of desperation sank the Power either side of halftime.

Dangerfield played a critical hand in back-to-back goals before the main break. The first a fantastic gather and burst away with pace that led to a goal to Miers, and the second a quick handball at speed which Cameron dribbled through from the pocket.

Then in the opening minutes of the third, Jack Bowes put the margin out to 26 points after a deft handball from Dangerfield found an open Ollie Dempsey in space.

But as is always the case with the Cats, it is never just one contributor – which is why the late withdrawal of Stewart wouldn’t have concerned coach Chris Scott a great deal.

Geelong’s small forwards — Tyson Stengle (four goals), Shaun Mannagh (three goals), Gryan Miers (three goals) — will have the Power defenders waking up in cold sweats.

Their pressure was manic, their work rate was emphatic and their ability to win critical contests was phenomenal. And it was all led by Shaun Mannagh.

Patrick Dangerfield and Shaun Mannagh celebrate a goal. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The 27-year-old spent several months in the VFL – again – this year learning to play an unselfish forward role that paled in comparison to the one he played at Werribee.

How fitting that he was the one to light up Adelaide Oval and reap the rewards with 23 disposals, 13 score involvements and three goals. He could have easily had a couple more to his name, assisting threee other majors, and he celebrated his teammate’s goals as much as his own.

Rising Star winner Dempsey was standing on heads and showing great composure, Cameron produced an Eddie Betts-esque goal from the Eddie Betts pocket, and mature-age draftee Lawson Humphries drilled targets on both sides all night long.

JEREMY CAMERON THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS 🤯#AFLFinals#AFLPowerCatspic.twitter.com/JykkVhsyfl

— AFL (@AFL) September 5, 2024

Two unheralded Cats also excelled, with the ever-improving Zach Guthrie rock-solid in defence and 2022 trade target Bowes kicking a couple of goals while playing all over the ground.

What an unbelievable performance against the odds from an unbelievable club.

They have defied the doubters once again and find themselves with a home preliminary final. Who predicted that in the pre-season off a 12th placed finish?

Premiership quartet Tom Stewart, Sam De Koning, Cam Guthrie and Tom Hawkins – the latter two set to return in the VFL on Saturday – have a fortnight to prove their fitness.

But with the way key forward Shannon Neale was leaping at the footy and the impact of Geelong’s midfield against the might of Port’s on-ball brigade, Guthrie and Hawkins may struggle to get a look in.

However, one thing is for sure: if the Cats perform in that same manner – and with that same Mannagh – for the remainder of September, they will have flag number 11 under their belt.

Originally published as AFL finals 2024: Patrick Dangerfield and heir apparent Max Holmes lead Geelong to blistering win over Port Adelaide