Geelong’s big names fail to show up in final top-eight challenge of the minor round against the Giants

Bailey Smith failed to have an impact on return. Jeremy Cameron couldn’t get near it. Max Holmes, too. But there’s one other Cat whose record against the top sides is now officially a concern.

This was Geelong’s final top-eight challenge of the home-and-away season two months out from finals, and their biggest stars failed to show up.

There was talk of a Toby Bedford tag in the lead-up but the stopper was nowhere near their main matchwinners Bailey Smith and Max Holmes, who both struggled in the Cats’ fourth consecutive loss to Greater Western Sydney.

A late withdrawal last week, Smith had a very rusty return with six clangers in the first 30 minutes of game time.

While he had a reasonable amount of the footy with 26 disposals, his kicking was poor and he had just four score involvements.

Holmes has been in sensational form over the past month but was uncharacteristically quiet with 17 touches, collecting a mere six possessions in the first half.

Jeremy Cameron bagged 32 goals in his previous seven games and started well with an early goal, but Connor Idun had his measure, and then some, after that.

The Coleman Medal leader went off at one stage with a hip complaint but played out the game to finish with 1.2 and only five touches – his lowest tally in a full game since the 2021 preliminary final.

Usually roaming up and down the ground gathering possessions at will, Cameron had just one disposal in the entire second half.

Bailey Smith failed to fire in his return. Picture: Brett Costello

Jack Buckley’s job on Cats captain Patrick Dangerfield was arguably even better than Idun’s as he comprehensively beat the Cats captain aerially and at ground level for the second time this season.

Staggeringly, Dangerfield had just two effective disposals as he was restricted to three behinds and seven touches for the match.

One of those behinds cost the Cats a certain goal, taking the advantage and blazing away in the dying seconds of the second term instead of allowing Gryan Miers – who was the Cats’ best – to go back for a simple set shot from close range.

Dangerfield, 35. started the season with a bang but his form against the best sides is becoming a concern.

Since his matchwinning effort against Collingwood in round eight, Dangerfield has just one goal in four matches against current top-eight sides and he has averaged 10.3 touches in those outings.

At the other end, key forward Aaron Cadman’s rise continued with three consecutive goals in the space of five minutes to extend their lead in red time of the third term.

The Cats had no answer for Jesse Hogan in their last encounter as he bagged seven goals, but this time it was his protege who had a career-best game with six majors.

Jake Stringer also gave the Cats’ defence some serious headaches and should have had more than four goals to his name.

Connor Idun did the job on Jeremy Cameron in the impressive win. Picture: Brett Costello

Patrick Dangerfield was well held, too. Picture: Brett Costello

A date with Sydney in round 23 appears the Cats’ only other danger game for the rest of the season – they also come up against St Kilda, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Essendon and Richmond – and unless the Swans keep winning, their season might be over by then.

However, those match-ups against bottom-six opponents may become danger games if they play the way they did after quarter time.

Geelong caught the Giants catnapping to start the contest with Shaun Mannagh booting the first goal inside the first 30 seconds as the visitors added three majors in the first six minutes.

But the Giants returned serve in the second quarter with a trio of goals in the first four minutes. In that time, the Cats managed just three disposals.

That domination continued as the Cats battled to get their hands on the ball, let alone inside 50.

As the Giants pumped the ball in for the first nine inside 50s of the second quarter, the Cats could only manage nine disposals.

Aaron Cadman was too good in the air for Geelong

Aaron Cadman booted six goals in a commanding performance. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

The result was six straight goals from midway as the Cats failed to kick a major for a quarter and a half. But the Cats managed to hit back with two goals in the last two minutes of the second term.

Geelong’s first goal of the second quarter shouldn’t have been one at all, with Brad Close’s kick to Shannon Neale appearing to go over the boundary line before he marked the ball.

Even after their second quarter lapse the Cats were still right in the contest in the third term, just a goal behind when Neale slotted his third at the 22nd minute mark.

But the Cats’ skill errors coupled with their inability to win clearances – the Giants went +14 in this area after quarter time – and defend the their ball-movement continued to hurt them.

Just as they did earlier this year, GWS went quick and direct up the middle and the Cats defence was unable to stop it.

The Cats’ poor performances have been few and far between in 2025 but this was a wake-up call for a side that has a rails run to finish the season and simply must finish top-four.

Originally published as Geelong’s big names fail to show up in final top-eight challenge of the minor round against the Giants