AFL Geelong v Essendon: All the news, action and fallout from Kardinia Park

Geelong thumped Essendon by 77 points on Saturday night, with the Bombers failing to land a punch despite coming into the game ahead of the Cats on the ladder. See the details here.

Gryan Miers slotted the first goal of the night.

It was billed as a blockbuster.

A fifth versus eighth clash and a significant opportunity for both clubs to strengthen their finals claims after losses to St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs earlier in the round.

Instead, it was over inside 20 minutes as Essendon was blown off the park by a dominant Geelong side that showed it remains a force to be reckoned with come September.

It seemed the Bombers showed up to the MCG instead of Kardinia Park as their defence resembled witches hats, conceding 12 scores – seven of those goals - from 20 Cats inside 50s in the first quarter, while managing just five entries themselves.

Essendon were chasing tail all night. Picture: Getty Images

What made it worse for Bombers fans is that coming in, they looked to be a red-hot chance of knocking off Geelong for the first time since 2018.

Essendon was coming off an eye-catching win over Adelaide and an after-the-siren defeat to Port Adelaide, while Geelong had drawn to Sydney a fortnight ago.

We will find out whether the 77-point Cattery shellacking is an aberration or a true indication of where the Bombers are at, but their record of 1-7 against top-eight teams this year is telling.

They still have North Melbourne and West Coast in a favourable run home, but the jury is out on the Bombers.

Even if they do manage to hold on and make the eight, it will do little to satisfy the Essendon faithful if they can’t break their 6,800-plus day finals drought.

Gryan Miers celebrates the first goal of the night. Picture: Getty Images

MESSI MEMES

Gryan Miers embraced the memes.

A shrug and ripping snap from Miers made it one goal to nil at GMHBA Stadium, but it was his ode to the Argentinian champion that was the biggest highlight from his 100th game.

After a week where the infamous Gerard Whateley fake quote dominated the headlines, Miers performed Messi’s patented celebration, looking up to the sky and pointing two fingers to the heavens.

The little boy from Grovedale!

Gryan Miers makes the most of a messy forward line, and scores!#AFLCatsDonspic.twitter.com/csyYsjpk6Q

— 7AFL (@7AFL) July 15, 2023

And true to the doctored quote, Miers scanned the field to create three more scoring opportunities in the quarter and many more deft passes in another scintillating display from the breakout Cat.

“I couldn’t get one (an Argentinian kit) quick enough (to wear this week), but maybe it’s just the Mad Monday costume sorted,” Miers said on Channel 7.

“It blew up pretty quickly. There were a lot of messages, a lot of tags. He’s not the worst guy to be compared to … obviously (I know) it’s not true.

“I think it is actually quite funny and I am happy to play along (with it).”

Geelong looked like Barcelona up against an A-League team, leading seven goals to nil at the first change.

Continuing the round ball trend, Jake Stringer broke the Bombers’ drought with an outside of the foot soccer goal early in the second.

Tom Hawkins nails one of his five goals. Picture: Michael Klein

BEND IT LIKE HAWKINS

Tom Hawkins kicked eight in his last game against the Bombers in round seven, and he could have kicked eight in this encounter.

The spearhead was at his very best, clunking several contested marks and looking dangerous everytime the Cats kicked it near him.

And while he missed a couple of easier chance, he kicked three set shots on the wrong side for a right footer which curled in beautifully to finish with a bag of five.

MOC BEATS MERRETT

Zach Merrett had been one of the most in-form players in the competition over the past six weeks.

Enter Mark O’Connor.

The Bombers skipper racked up a decent amount of the footy early in his 200th game, but his impact was stymied by the Irishman, with just over 50 per cent of his 18 disposals hitting the target.

O’Connor was able to hurt Merrett the other way too, booting a goal in the third term.

CAMERON IN THE WARS

In his first game back from two-week absence with concussion, Jeremy Cameron was in the wars early.

Cameron collided with Bomber Mason Redman in the first quarter and was slow to get up, but still managed to get a handball out the back from Max Holmes seconds later – with a Bomber nearly running him down – before limping off the ground.

In the second term Cameron was soon walking off to the bench with blood coming from his mouth.

But he returned to blow out the cobwebs, kicking three behinds before a late goal that was met with a loud roar from the Cats faithful.

SCOREBOARD

GEELONG 7.5, 9.10, 14.11, 18.14 (122)

ESSENDON 0.1, 3.2, 4.2, 7.3 (45)

GOALS

GEELONG: Hawkins 5, B.Close 2, Stengle 3, Blicavs 2, Miers, Dangerfield, Henry, Rohan, O’Connor, Cameron

ESSENDON: Stringer, Wright, Menzie, Snelling, Guelfi, Bryan, Langford

BATTEN’S BEST

GEELONG: Hawkins, Holmes, Miers, Henry, Blicavs, Smith

ESSENDON: Ridley, Bryan, Parish, Redman, Hobbs

INJURIES Essendon: Jayden Laverde subbed out, replaced by Nick Hind

DAN BATTEN’S VOTES

3- Tom Hawkins

2- Gryan Miers

1- Max Holmes