Geelong star Jeremy Cameron boots 11 goals as Cats thump North Melbourne

In an all too familiar story, North Melbourne conceded its fifth score in excess of 140 for the year and was outscored comfortably by one player – Jeremy Cameron.

There was no stopping the genius of Geelong champion Jeremy Cameron.

Cameron put an uncompetitive North Melbourne to the sword with a career-best 11 goals at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.

The fill-up eclipsed Cameron’s previous best of nine – which he had reached twice – and tightened his grip on a second Coleman Medal.

Cameron was the beneficiary of the Kangaroos’ complete system breakdown, regularly running unmarked into an open goal.

He fired his warning shot early with Geelong’s first three goals of the game and would go on to kick two in the second, four in the third and two in the last.

Jeremy Cameron boots his 10th goal against the Roos

Remarkably, Cameron also kicked two out on the full and had two shots on target but stopped or touched on the goal line.

The game itself was two teams in immensely different positions, which was highlighted by the tightness of the possession count but contrast on the scoreboard.

Geelong coach Chris Scott had to apologise for being “boring” post-game because he didn’t dive heavily into the enormity of Cameron’s magical haul.

“I think it’s clear to everyone that we’re a better team when the ball is in his hands,” he said.

“Right from the start he looked sharp, took his chances early and was dangerous all night.

“We thought part of that was because of the others who are in there as well, it’s not as though he was our only way of scoring.

“I had to keep asking how many he’d kicked, I only heard that Bailey Smith had a lot of the ball, those sort of stats don’t interest me much.

“Even in the post-match it’s not something I focus on very much – sorry to be boring.”

The Kangaroos unquestionably missed key players Tristan Xerri and Nick Larkey but their absence did not excuse the performance.

It was an all too familiar story for North Melbourne as it conceded its fifth score in excess of 140 for the year.

Cameron was the star as the Cats ran riot. Picture: Michael Klein

BRILLIANT BAZ

If Jeremy Cameron didn’t get North Melbourne – Bailey Smith did.

Smith was at his brilliant best on Saturday night as North Melbourne allowed the prolific ball-winner to run unrestricted.

He entered the halftime break with 25 disposals, nine clearances and a goal and finished with an imperious 43 disposals and 13 clearances.

Smith won’t collect three votes come Brownlow Medal night but he is sure to add to what should be an already healthy tally.

Bailey Smith finished had 43 disposals in the win. Picture: Michael Klein

And a colourful conversation with a man in the crowd. Picture: Michael Klein

TAKE A SEAT, DANGER

Geelong had the luxury of substituting star veteran Patrick Dangerfield out of the game halfway through the third quarter.

The Cats were really starting to fill their boots when coach Chris Scott sidelined his now destructive forward.

Geelong has an eight-day break before Port Adelaide next week but then just a five-day turnaround between the Power and Essendon.

Dangerfield was receiving treatment on his neck but the club confirmed the substitution was purely tactical.

Such was his relaxed nature and the insignificance of North Melbourne’s challenge, Dangerfield was snacking on a bread roll during the final term.

A BRACE OF BLUNDERS

Everyone at Marvel Stadium knew but the goal umpire.

Geelong utility Mark Blicavs’ moment to forget during the second quarter was matched by an equally bad blunder from the umpire.

Blicavs took a strong mark and played on to finish what promised to be a certain goal – but he guided it down to his foot awkwardly and missed from two metres out.

Blicavs, all other players and supporters had recognised the error except the goal umpire who confidently signalled it a goal.

The field umpire called for a score review and the correct call was eventually made.

“I’ve never seen anyone work harder on their kicking and get no improvement,” Blicavs’ former teammate Josh Jenkins said on SEN.

A desperate Cameron Zurhaar tackles Tom Stewart. Picture: Michael Klein

Scoreboard

NORTH MELBOURNE 2.2 3.4 3.5 7.7 (49)

GEELONG 4.6 11.10 19.15 22.15 (150)

GOALS:

Kangaroos: Zurhaar 3, Curtis 2, Darling, Maley

Cats: Cameron 11, Neale 4, Stengle 2, Humphries, Bowes, Miers, Stanley, Smith

BEST

Kangaroos: Sheezel, McKercher

Cats: Cameron, Smith, Holmes, Blicavs, Atkins

INJURIES

Kangaroos: nil.

Cats: nil.

25,445 at Marvel Stadium

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

TYLER LEWIS’ VOTES

3 Jeremy Cameron (Geelong)

2 Bailey Smith (Geelong)

1 Max Holmes (Geelong

Originally published as Geelong star Jeremy Cameron boots 11 goals as Cats thump North Melbourne