Geelong v West Coast: Cats destroy Eagles in goalscoring avalanche

Geelong annihilated West Coast by 97 points and one aspect of the win will excite Cat fans, and have rivals trembling.

Tom Hawkins outmarks Jeremy McGovern.

An irresistible Geelong made an almighty statement at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday afternoon, destroying the West Coast Eagles by 97 points in Jeremy Cameron’s long-awaited club debut.

Cameron joined Tom Hawkins in the forward 50, with the Cats finally unleashing their Coleman Medal winning duo up forward. After struggling to have an impact through the first quarter and half, Cameron unglued the Geelong fans from their seats with a beautiful left-foot snap 20 minutes into the second quarter as direct opponent Jeremy McGovern hobbled from the field with a groin injury.

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Minutes later he dribbled another one home from 40m out on the boundary, saluted the delirious fans and the party had well and truly started.

The two quick goals came in the middle of a stunning burst of 13-straight Geelong majors between the 27-minute mark of the first quarter to the three-minute mark of the third, with Cameron and Tom Hawkins roaming the forward 50 in ominous fashion.

Jeremy Cameron enjoys a goal for his new club.

It was total domination all over the ground for Geelong, but the story was in the forward line, where Cameron finished with three goals from nine disposals and Hawkins added three of his own and 11 score involvements in a sparkling debut of the club’s dynamic pair.

After a sputtering start to the season, it was the ultimate reminder of Geelong’s capabilities, and a stunning response to the news that superstar midfielder Patrick Dangerfield is set for an extended period on the sideline with a syndesmosis injury.

“We played much more like the way we’ve been trying to play,” Cats coach Chriss Scott said. “I thought the execution after quarter-time was obviously exceptional.

“We’ve always thought cohesion is important for our football team, at least this iteration, and particularly in our forward half we just haven’t had it,” Scott said.

“There’s still a bit to work on but it looked more cohesive even though Cameron was playing his first game and (Gary) Rohan has been interrupted. That cohesion piece is something we’ll focus on and unfortunately you can’t fix it overnight, you just have to get the games together and train together to build that.”

Scott hinted at the possibility of going even taller at the selection table, with Esava Ratugolea yet to make his season debut after suffering a leg fracture in the off-season.

“We won’t be as tall as West Coast even if we play Esava,” Scott said. “They at least show an example of how it can be really effective with lots of talls.”

“I’ll be specific. I love Esava and when he’s up and going I think he’s in my best team. Now whether my best team gets up over the other guys is going to be a healthy debate.”

Eagles coach Adam Simpson was blunt post-match.

“We got annihilated in every aspect of the game, which was really disappointing,” Simpson said.

“It was an embarrassing performance after quarter-time, and you get what you deserve in the game really. Had a go in the first quarter, quite competitive in the first quarter, around the contest, field position. In the second quarter we just got blown away.

“Physically, we looked weak ... Absolutely no excuses for what we did.”

The only sour note for the Cats were injuries to Mark O’Connor (hamstring) and Jake Kolodjashnij (knee), with the severity to be determined in the coming days.

MITCH UNCORKS THE BARREL

The icing on the cake of an irresistible second term came after the siren when Mitch Duncan was taken high and awarded a free kick 55m out on the boundary. A beautiful executor of the drop punt, Duncan elected to uncork an old-fashioned torpedo, with the Sherrin sailing over the outstretched hands of West Coast defenders.

The shot was originally called touched but the goal umpire’s call was overturned on video review, putting a full stop on a 10.1 to 0.1 quarter.

SLAM DUNC! What a way to cap off an electrifying second term 🔵⚪️
#AFLCatsEagles#GeelongStrongpic.twitter.com/NRedYZq4dP

— Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) April 24, 2021

ROHAN’S GOOD LUCK CHARM

One of the main beneficiaries of Cameron’s inclusion in the side was livewire Gary Rohan, who got off the chain to kick three goals from 13 disposals. Now in his third season with the Cats, it was the eighth time Rohan has kicked three or more goals in a game with the club.

Geelong’s record in those games? 8-0.

Mitch Duncan had a day out with four goals and 26 disposals.

HENDO SNEAKS FORWARD

Starting his career as a forward in stints with Brisbane and Carlton, Lachie Henderson has found himself firmly planted in the backline since crossing to Geelong prior to the 2016 season. Entering Saturday afternoon, Henderson had kicked 10 goals in 73 games with Geelong and hadn’t kicked two in a game since Round 22, 2016.

Manning his usual post down back against the Eagles, the 31-year-old snuck forward to kick two in the third quarter alone, jogging back to defence with a huge smile on his face.

Tom Hawkins outmarks Eagle Jeremy McGovern.

SCOREBOARD

CATS 2.3, 12.4, 18.7, 21.10 (136)

EAGLES 3.2, 3.3, 4.4, 5.9 (39)

PITMAN’S BEST

CATS: Duncan, Guthrie, Hawkins, Stewart, Selwood, Henderson, Rohan

EAGLES: Naitanui, Gaff, Witherden

GOALS

CATS: Duncan 4, Cameron 3, Rohan 3, Hawkins 3, Henderson 2, Close, Henry, Miers, O’Connor, Stanley, Menegola

EAGLES: Allen 2, Brander, Darling, Vardy,

INJURIES

CATS: O’Connor (hamstring), Kolodjashnij (knee)

EAGLES: McGovern (groin)

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

PITMAN’S VOTES

3. Mitch Duncan

2. Cam Guthrie

1. Tom Hawkins

Originally published as Geelong v West Coast: Cats destroy Eagles in goalscoring avalanche