Geelong flex muscles in win over St Kilda as Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera shines in midfield role, Tom Stewart suffers another knee setback

Geelong kicked into gear with a purple patch in the third term, but the quarter ended with one of their stars subbed out again. And a magnet move gave a glimpse of what the future could look like for an unsigned sensation.

Geelong shot out to a 29-point lead towards the end of the first quarter and it looked to be curtains.

Trouncing lower ranked teams down at Kardinia Park has been a tradition for the Cats this century, but their bogey side St Kilda – who had won three of its last four against the Cats – kept themselves in the contest for most of the match.

Some of that was Geelong’s own doing, with the end of the second quarter littered with errors, causing frustration for the Cats faithful at GMHBA Stadium.

Jeremy Cameron kicked five goals. Picture: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

The Cats were deadeye for their first nine shots at goal as Jeremy Cameron (five goals) ran rings around the inexperienced St Kilda defence, but Patrick Dangerfield and Brad Close went on to miss simple set shots directly in front before the break – Dangerfield’s from just 25 metres out.

Geelong fumbled and missed targets while the Saints were quick and clinical, scoring eight times from 12 entries in the second term for five goals.

One of those came after a spilt open mark from the returning Sam De Koning, with Jack Higgins’ kick that went the best part of 10 metres across goal to Mason Wood only adding to the Cats’ frustrations.

But in the third quarter the Cats flicked the switch, peppering the Saints defence with entries.

Some magic from Ollie Dempsey, who was immense in game 50, got them into gear, snapping a half chance on the bounce in heavy traffic.

Shaun Mannagh and Oliver Dempsey celebrate a goal. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

Dempsey’s finish was the first of four Geelong goals in seven minutes as the Cats again flexed their offensive weapons with their blistering ball movement and dangerous forwards, including Shaun Mannagh who finished with 3.3, 24 disposals and 11 tackles.

Geelong had 18 inside 50s to seven in the third quarter and arguably should have had more than five goals, also kicking six behinds, as they took a 37-point lead into three-quarter-time.

But seeing their defensive general Tom Stewart on the bench subbed out with his knees iced at the three-quarter-time break would have sent shivers down the spine of even the most optimistic Cats supporter

Stewart was back to his very best against the Saints, patrolling the backline as he did during his All-Australian years as he took five intercept marks, before he pulled up lame and was taken out of the game.

It looked to be precautionary, and the Cats have exercised every caution in recent times, but Stewart is too important to be risked unnecessarily in the run home – especially with North Melbourne to come next week.

But Geelong coach Chris Scott said should be able to face the Roos as he allayed fears about Stewart’s knee.

“We’ve got a low tolerance these days for keeping guys going when they can,” he said.

“The question shouldn’t be, `Can they keep going?’. The question is, `Should they keep going?’.

“The strong suggestion is that he’ll be OK for next week, and hopefully that’s off the back of chopping (subbing) him out a little bit earlier.”

Stewart has missed five games because of his troublesome knee issues across the season and the Cats can afford to rest him for a few more matches to ensure he is cherry ripe for the finals.

On the other side of the equation, Saints fans nervously awaiting Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera’s signature would have been excited by his full game in the midfield.

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera shone as a full-time midfielder. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

The smooth-mover racked up 15 disposals in the final quarter against Hawthorn a fortnight ago in a midfield role and he had 13 possessions, five clearances and goal to his name by quarter time against the Cats.

His disposal was a little off in that first quarter but he hit targets lace out inside 50 from then on, finishing with a game-high 36 disposals, 10 clearances, eight marks and two goals.

St Kilda’s midfield has long been bereft of class and Wanganeen-Milera is exactly what their on-ball brigade is missing.

The Saints simply must persist with the role change for the remainder of the season.

Can Port Adelaide and Adelaide — with reasonably set midfield groups – offer the promise of a full-time midfield role?

It might just be the magnet move that helps the Saints hold onto the South Australian sensation as the Power and Crows swoop.

Originally published as Geelong flex muscles in win over St Kilda as Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera shines in midfield role, Tom Stewart suffers another knee setback