AFL 2024: Geelong superstar Jeremy Cameron’s rare off-night as Zach Guthrie impresses in Cats defeat

After a freakish start to the season, Jeremy Cameron showed he is human. But it was another off-night for one of the Cats’ biggest names in their narrow loss to Melbourne.

Jeremy Cameron after the loss. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Jeremy Cameron is in some of the best form of his career.

The unique superstar had been labelled as the best player in the game in recent weeks, especially after his matchwinning five-goal haul the previous week against Carlton.

While he has wowed crowds with freakish goals and freakish running power this season, it turns out he is human.

Cameron had just eight touches to his name going into the last quarter – a far cry from his 20-plus disposal tallies he has registered on several occasions this season – and tried his heart out in the final term.

The 31-year-old had seven kicks but just three of them hit the target, one of those a sizzling pass to Brad Close to set up a goal

His ineffective kicks included a clever inside 50 entry which had just a little bit too much on it for Tom Hawkins.

And most critically, two set shot misses that shanked to both sides of the goals. Kicks that most he would ordinarily send over the goal umpire’s hat.

We can count this an aberration for Cameron, but the form of Hawkins has become a glaring concern.

Tom Hawkins’ goalless streak continued. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Cameron and Hawkins being held goalless in the same game was a non-event in their first 61 games together.

In the last four games, the pair have both been held goalless twice in the same match – first against Brisbane in torrential rain, and now against Melbourne on a dry MCG night.

It marks the four consecutive game that Hawkins has failed to register a major, dating back to his 350th game on Easter Monster.

While Geelong coach Chris Scott said on Friday that his form is measured on more than stats and goals, it is clear the gap between him and emerging big man Shannon Neale is closing.

Hawkins did set up one of Cameron’s misses with a deft toe poke, pick-up and pass, but he finished with just the solitary behind and 11 touches.

He will equal Geelong’s all-time games record next week with 355 matches if he faces Port Adelaide. Is it time he was given another rest – as he was against North Melbourne – or does the defensive fragility of the Power make them the perfect opposition for him to find form?

Perhaps more concerning was the impact of Melbourne’s key defenders in the eight-point defeat.

Steven May and Jake Lever were among the top-five ranked players on the ground according to Champion Data.

Jake Lever and Steven May were pivotal for the Demons. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Lever had a whopping 12 intercept possessions and seven score involvements among 24 disposals and 510 metres gained, while May racked up 25 disposals, 544 metres and seven involvements himself – as well as saving a goal with a desperate spoil on the goal line.

Lever was arguably best afield for his efforts and Melbourne always looked to free him up or man a smaller opponent like Ollie Henry.

Despite their dominance and the lack of impact from their two spearheads, they Cats fell just eight-points short without captain Patrick Dangerfield and Tanner Bruhn for a half, after he was subbed out with a shoulder injury.

Tom Atkins stepped up in their absence, gathering 16 contested possessions — one behind Melbourne ball-magnet Clayton Oliver’s tally — and a game-high 11 tackles, seven of those coming in the first half.

Inclusion Jhye Clark racked up 10 contested posessions himself and kicked his first AFL goal in what was an exciting glimpse of the future.

The Cats certainly hold their heads up high. But the arm-wrestle won’t be one that the players — or anyone for that matter — will be rushing to watch back.

Zach Guthrie takes an intercept mark. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

GUN GUTHRIE

As Lever turned defence into attack with his intercepting at one end, Zach Guthrie did so at the other.

The 25-year-old has come on in leaps and bounds this season, culminating in his 24 disposals, 11 intercepts, nine marks (three of those contested) and crucial goal late in the piece.

He was the top-ranked Cat on the ground and their best on the night, giving the Cats a fighting chance.

Guthrie’s one-year deal he signed earlier this year – when eligible as a free agent at the end of the season – seemed strangely short at the time.

But if his rise continues, his contract worth beyond 2025 will rise considerably.

Guthrie is a contender for the most improved player of 2024, and his backline teammate Max Holmes might be atop that list.

Holmes was also critical with 31 disposals, a game-high 695 metres gained and eight intercepts. And he came centimetres from a goal that was denied by May.

Max Gawn and Rhys Stanley hunt the ball. Picture: Michael Klein

STANLEY’S MIXED BAG

Stanley’s inability to contain ruckman was already in the spotlight after Carlton’s Marc Pittonet got on top of him last week.

He had kept Gawn in check in their last two meetings, and it was looking very promising at the main break.

The 34-year-old restricted the in-form Gawn to just four touches, eight hit-outs and 29 SuperCoach points to halftime, with the Melbourne captain adding another three in the third term.

However, Gawn came to life in the final quarter with the game on the line, booming a long-range goal from beyond the arc and tallying nine disposals, seven hit-outs, seven contested possessions, four clearances and 52 points.

Meanwhile, Stanley managed just the two possessions and six hit-outs in the fourth term.

It was a commendable effort overall considering the level Gawn has been producing in recent weeks, but his hot quarter came at the worst possible time for the Cats.

CATS’ TOP THREE

3. Z.Guthrie

2. M.Holmes

1. T.Atkins

Originally published as AFL 2024: Geelong superstar Jeremy Cameron’s rare off-night as Zach Guthrie impresses in Cats defeat