AFL 2023: Geelong concedes seven straight goals in narrow defeat as Jeremy Cameron returns to form

Geelong turned heads with a fast start, but a costly lapse highlighted the gap is between them and the best. Meanwhile, Jeremy Cameron’s luck turned in a big way.

The Cats walk off after the loss. Picture: Getty Images

With serious questions hanging over them since that disappointing loss to Fremantle, Geelong had plenty to prove against the ladder-leaders.

The win over a heavily depleted Port Adelaide at home did little to convince the football landscape of their finals – and premiership – credentials.

Former player Shaun Higgins said this week that the Cats were a “significant threat” for the premiership – and midway through the second quarter he looked a visionary.

A team without Tom Hawkins, Mark Blicavs, Cam Guthrie and Jack Henry was four goals up against the first-placed side – albeit with injured captain Darcy Moore subbed out of the game early and Nick Daicos on the sidelines.

The Cats started on fire. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

But as the Pies lifted their pressure, got their running game going and took their opportunities in front of goal, the gulf between the two sides became clear – more than the eight-point margin would suggest.

The Pies blew the Cats off the MCG in a 25-minute patch before and after halftime which was ultimately the difference in the contest.

During this period Collingwood took the ball from end to end with relative ease, picked the Cats apart in transition and even took open marks close to goal as the Cats failed to man up.

Premiership sides, like the Cats of last year, don’t suffer costly lapses like this.

At three quarter-time, the Pies were +54 in both disposals and uncontested possessions, yet had 13 more tackles than the Cats.

Clearly all is not lost in 2023, given the Cats showed just how good their best footy can be in the first and fourth quarters. where they booted 11 goals to Collingwood’s six.

They managed to come within two of the top team in the competition thanks to the heroics of Jeremy Cameron and Patrick Dangerfield, who had maximum impact from his 26 disposals.

But two defensive errors from Jake Kolodjashnij and Esava Ratugolea that resulted in Collingwood goals were symbolic of the Cats’ night from midway through the second term.

In ninth spot with must-win clashes against top-eight sides St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs to come, they can’t afford any more patches like this.

JEZZA’S LUCK TURNS

Cameron couldn’t catch a break.

Sidelined for two weeks with a concussion caused by his own teammate, Cameron was knocked from pillar to post in his return game against the Bombers, copping a corkie and claret from his face.

Since then he had been plagued by poor goalkicking, booting 7.11 in the previous month.

But Cameron’s luck turned in a big way on Friday night.

Jeremy Cameron was back in a big way. Picture: Michael Klein

Cameron found himself with three first quarter goals – two of those sensational snaps, and he had a fourth shortly after thanks to a joe the goose handball from Ollie Henry.

And he couldn’t help but chuckle to himself after a kick from Isaac Smith that appeared to be marked Cameron well outside the boundary line was paid, which led to goal number five for the No. 5 with an incredible checkside.

Lightning struck twice. Staggeringly, Cameron then received a handball standing outside the boundary line and snapped through his sixth at the end as the Pies faithful bellowed as if Ollie Henry had collected another touch.

While his goalkicking wasn’t completely back with a stunning haul of 7.4, his form definitely is after almost single-handedly willing his side over the line.

Originally published as AFL 2023: Geelong concedes seven straight goals in narrow defeat as Jeremy Cameron returns to form