AFL 2021 Geelong beat Essendon 79-72 in Community series trial

Jeremy Cameron was seen as the final piece of the premiership puzzle for the Cats, but how did he look in his first game for Geelong?

2021 AAMI Community Series. Geelong vs. Essendon at GMHBA Stadium, Geelong. 06/03/2021. a happy Jeremy Cameron of the Cats after match. Pic: Michael Klein

This game was all about synergy, compatibility, cohesion, any of those types of words for Geelong.

All summer the question has been: How were the last two Coleman Medallists going to work in the same forward line?

Obviously it’s a very good dilemma to have particularly after playing in a grand final a bit over five months ago.

The arrival of Jeremy Cameron - the 2019 Coleman Medallist - from the GWS Giants is seen as the final piece of the premiership puzzle for the Cats.

While there was certainly no premiership style football on display against Essendon - it’s best described as a scrappy and uninspiring seven-point victory - there was a nice look and feel about Cameron in the famous Geelong No.5 jumper.

He certainly endeared himself to the locals early with a handball which set up Gary Rohan for the opening goal inside 45 seconds.

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New recruit Jeremy Cameron has impressed in his first game for the Cats. Picture: Michael Klein.

A pass to his new partner in crime Tom Hawkins, who then handballed to Rohan, set up the second major of proceedings.

Cameron got himself on the scoreboard in the second quarter with consecutive goals, the first coming from a free kick in a marking contest.

The next, three minutes later, was a beautiful set shot from 55 metres which screamed “I’m going to love playing here”.

Hawkins is already one of the more unselfish forwards in the game and he clearly was happy to play a back seat to the new show in town.

Last year’s leading goalkicker got on the board early in the third quarter with a delightful set-shot from 45m.

There was only one occasion where the pair almost got in each other’s way so the first look at the twin towers deserves a pass mark.

It must be noted the Bombers were missing their No.1 defender Michael Hurley while their other most experienced backman, Cale Hooker, played at the other end (and kicked three goals).

Gary Rohan kicked the match winner in the dying stages of the game. Picture: Getty Images.

Former full-forward James Stewart started on Hawkins with Aaron Francis on Cameron and Jayden Laverde floating around.

The other two Geelong big-name recruits also enjoyed their first outing in the hoops.

Shaun Higgins started in Gary Ablett’s spot at half-forward and kicked a controversial early goal where the goal umpire was the only person in the stadium who thought Francis marked the ball behind the line.

Former Hawk Isaac Smith roamed GMHBA Stadium like he’d been doing it for years collecting 25 possessions.

There were also some good signs from the Bombers recruits with ex-Giant Jy Caldwell busy through the midfield (24 touches) while former Gold Coast big man Peter Wright looked likely and could have had more than one goal if he’d kicked straight.

GEELONG 4.2 6.2 9.5 12.7 (79)

beats

ESSENDON 1.5 5.10 6.15 9.18 (72)

GOALS

Geelong: Rohan 2, Cameron 2, Higgins, C.Guthrie, Hawkins, Z.Guthrie, Bews, Blicavs, Clark, Evans

Essendon: Hooker 4, Smith 2, McGrath, Langford, Wright

BEST PLAYERS:

Geelong: Atkins, Clark, Smith, Bews, Stewart, Dangerfield:

Essendon: Merrett, Parish, Draper, Hooker, Caldwell, Ridley

IN A NUTSHELL

GEELONG

ALL eyes were on the forward line set-up and it got a pass mark with new recruit Jeremy Cameron and Gary Rohan kicking two goals each while last year’s Coleman Medallist Tom Hawkins snared just one major although he gave a couple of easy ones off.

The Cats were scrappy and were lucky to win in the end but the run and carry of Jordan Clark (29 possessions) will certainly warm the hearts of the locals.

ESSENDON

Showed some good ball movement and directness in their first game solely in the care of Ben Rutten. Zach Merrett (37 possessions) and Darcy Parish (32) were everywhere while life after Joe Daniher could rest again in the hands of regular defender Cale Hooker who led all scorers with three goals.

SELECTION PUZZLES

GEELONG

A regular tall could miss out in the Cats defensive shuffle. Instead of replacing Harry Taylor with another tall, they’ve thrown small forward Tom Atkins into the mix. Jake Kolodjashnij was the one who was on the outer on Saturday night, sitting out the first half before replacing Jack Henry.

ESSENDON

Captain Dyson Heppel playing across half-back was a major positive. His calmness and good decision-making certainly shone out while he still got plenty of the pill with 21 touches. His replacement in the middle of the ground, ex-Giant Jy Caldwell, certainly impressed with some classy moves on his way to 24 possessions.

ONES TO WATCH

GEELONG

Tom Atkins reinvention as a small defender appears to be a masterstroke. The hard nut spent most of the night minding dangerous Bomber Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti but still managed to get plenty of the ball - he finished with 28 possessions to be the third highest ranked Cat.

ESSENDON

Sam Draper already has Essendon fans excited and despite his own inexperience he made a mess of the Cats depleted ruck stocks. The former basketballer is an imposing figure and he controlled the centre square finishing with 20 hit-outs and 11 disposals.

SIDELINED

GEELONG

The Cats were forced to play untried defender Sam De Koning in the ruck with Rhys Stanley missing after copping a head knock against Collingwood last week. They already have Darcy Fort out while Esava Ratugolea is also sidelined because of a leg injury. Classy midfielder Mitch Duncan and goal sneak Luke Dalhaus were also absent and are facing a race against time to be ready for Round 1.

ESSENDON

Michael Hurley is the biggest out for the Bombers with the key defender facing a long stint on the sidelines as he recovers from a mystery infection. Jake Stringer’s forward line craft was sorely missed against the Cats because of an achilles problem but he’s back training and is an outside chance for the season opener.

Originally published as AFL 2021 Geelong beat Essendon 79-72 in Community series trial