Geelong knocks off Collingwood in grind as Cats sweat on Tom Stewart collision

It wasn’t pretty, but Geelong is one step closer to a top-four spot, and a former Pie put the icing on the cake. However, one of the Cats’ best could be in MRO strife just after hitting form.

Geelong had a golden opportunity to pounce on an undermanned and vulnerable Collingwood side, and the Cats started — and finished — with a bang.

The Cats were two goals up before some fans at the MCG had made it back to their seat from the bar.

Geelong dialled up the pressure early and a third came soon after as livewire Tyson Stengle left Magpies defenders in a spin before setting up Shannon Neale’s second to start the game.

However, then butter fingers cost them goals at both ends of the ground.

Jake Kolodjashnij uncharacteristically spilt an uncontested mark which Will Hoskin-Elliott picked up and snapped over his shoulder, while Ollie Dempsey was one of several Cats who dropped a mark out the back close to goal.

Shannon Neale started with two early goals. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Two Collingwood goals came directly from Zach Tuohy’s errors. The first he ran past the ball on the wing and the next a poor sideways kick opened the door for Jamie Elliott, who only needs a split second to make a side pay.

The game ebbed and flowed for the next two quarters with no side able to get a firm grasp on the match.

Putting it politely, it was a grind. The third quarter in particular certainly isn’t going into the footy time capsule.

Veteran Mark Blicavs comically being pinged for throwing the ball back to Max Holmes – not having heard the advantage call – summed it up.

Another typical fast finish from Collingwood looked to be on the menu after Steele Sidebottom cut the margin to under a goal early in the last quarter.

But it was the Cats who ran the Pies off their feet – just like they did to Essendon a fortnight ago – keeping them to two majors in the final term.

Making the win even more satisfying for Cats fans was the fact Ollie Henry, who was traded from Collingwood at the end of 2022, chimed in for an important goal in the last quarter after being subbed on.

One of the most pleasing things for the Cats in the win was their dominance at centre clearance, which usually is a weakness. Despite being smashed 64-22 in hitouts, they blitzed the Pies 16-6 out of the middle.

There wasn’t a great deal of standouts for the victors, which is typical of Geelong at its best.

Young defender Lawson Humphries showed the maturity of a 100 gamer in just his third AFL match, hitting the target with his first 16 disposals and zoning back to take a couple of gutsy marks.

In the end his 17th possession was his only blemish for the night, hitting the target with 22 of his 23 disposals in a promising sign for the future for the man who was plucked from obscurity in last year’s draft.

Max Holmes had another fantastic game off halfback and there were shades of Patrick Dangerfield at his best with his gamebreaking burst.

Stengle was dynamic with his ball-use and kicked another two goals, Jeremy Cameron continued his hot streak against Collingwood with three – and it could have been a bag if he kicked straight.

The 20-point win puts them one step closer to a top-four finish with a great run home ahead.

Is Tom Stewart in strife? Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

STEWART IN TROUBLE?

Just when Tom Stewart had found form in his new-found midfield role, the Cats will be sweating on his availability.

The five-time All-Australian ran in at full pelt on the wing and collected Nathan Kreuger high with an incidental bump.

With the unpredictability of the match review officer and their insistence on protecting the head at all times, it is sure to be looked at – even though Kreuger returned to the field.

When asked if Stewart had anything to worry about, Geelong coach Chris Scott said: “Not at all.”

As fate would have it, Stewart then copped an unlucky blow of his own to the head in the final quarter in a marking contest involving Kreuger.

The defensive superstar clashed heads with Collingwood forward Lachie Schultz and looked groggy before being helped from the field, vision showing a gash above his left eye.

However he was back on the ground shortly after being assessed by the Geelong doctor on the bench.

Stewart put in another strong performance after a slow start with 25 disposals, 11 contested possessions and five clearances.

Originally published as Geelong knocks off Collingwood in grind as Cats sweat on Tom Stewart collision