Cats cruise past young Bombers in MCG mauling

Bailey Smith and Jeremy Cameron lead Geelong to a 95-point thrashing of Essendon on Saturday

Bailey Smith during the round 14 match between Essendon and Geelong at the MCG, June 14, 2025. Picture: Getty Images

GEELONG has made light work of Essendon on Saturday afternoon, thrashing the Bombers by 95 points in front of a crowd of 61,643 at the MCG.

Superstar forward Jeremy Cameron was superb with a game-high six goals, whilst Bailey Smith made a successful return from hamstring tightness collecting 41 disposals and racking up 760 metres gained in Geelong's 23.13 (151) to 8.8 (56) win.

BOMBERS v CATS Full match coverage and stats

It was the 10th version of the Country Game between these two sides and though Essendon showed glimpses of their capabilities, particularly in the first and third quarters, the classy Cats easily kept them at bay kicking their highest score of the season.

Cameron was one of 11 individual goal kickers for Geelong, with fellow forwards Shannon Neale (four goals), Shaun Mannagh (three), Patrick Dangerfield (two) and winger Ollie Dempsey (two) the other multiple goal scorers.

The huge win was soured by an injury to key defender Sam De Koning who was left grabbing at his left wrist following a contest in the second quarter.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS Previous Next 09:59 Full post-match, R14: Bombers Watch Essendon’s press conference after round 14’s match against Geelong

09:42 Full post-match, R14: Cats Watch Geelong’s press conference after round 14’s match against Essendon

08:15 Highlights: Essendon v Geelong The Bombers and Cats clash in round 14 of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

02:13 Jezza wreaks havoc with easy half-dozen Jeremy Cameron has a day out bagging six goals to further himself ahead for the 2025 Coleman Medal

01:03 Dempsey's checkside adds more icing on the cake Ollie Dempsey squeezes home a ridiculous goal from the boundary while standing still and celebrates with his teammates

00:37 Young gun slots one on the run Lawson Humphries kicks a massive goal from outside 50 on the burst and celebrates in style

00:51 Jezza and Danger link up in sizzling play Jeremy Cameron snaps a beauty on the left but it was all thanks to a clean pickup and handball from Patrick Dangerfield

00:50 Neale sweetens the deal with two in a minute Shannon Neale nails two goals late in the first term with a great assist from teammate Bailey Smith

00:38 Cats turn chaos into Mannagh magic Shaun Mannagh dribbles an easy major after a great centre clearance and assist from Tyson Stengle

00:56 Gresham curls home a beauty to get Dons rolling Jade Gresham slots a superb goal from a tight angle thanks to a handy assist from debutant Archer May

De Koning returned briefly to the game in the second half, but was subbed out midway through the third term with what the Cats have described as a shoulder injury.

The Bombers started with purpose, moving the ball with speed and quick decision to create an entertaining brand of football. But with their high-risk, high-reward game style errors crept in, and when they slipped up, the Cats pounced.

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From Essendon’s turnovers, the class of Geelong shone, with midfielders Smith and Max Holmes (36 disposals, 873 metres gained) running amok through the centre of the ground.

Up forward, the slippery Cameron often found himself free deep inside 50 and on the end of the Cats’ slick ball movement.

Cameron wasn’t the only forward creating headaches for Bomber defenders, with mature-age recruit Shaun Mannagh and Shannon Neale joining in with two goals each in the opening term.

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Essendon’s forays forward were chaotic in comparison, with its only two goals coming from a low-percentage shot from the boundary by Jade Gresham and Matt Guelfi snapping from a contest.

After a quiet opening term, Geelong skipper Patrick Dangerfield started to make his mark on the game, providing two successive goal assists to Cameron, who was now up to four majors five minutes into the second term.

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It looked as though Dangerfield was going to have his third consecutive goal assist when he drove the ball long to the goal square from outside 50. Oliver Dempsey slid back to take one of his signature flying marks, but played on to unbelievably miss from less than 10 metres out.

The Bombers were lost for answers when exiting their defensive half, with their attempts quickly quelled by Cats defenders, in particular Lawson Humphries and Tom Stewart who quickly rebounded, turning the defence into attack.

Finally, Essendon broke the run of five consecutive Geelong goals when Guelfi scored his second for the game, reducing the margin to 35 points at the main break.

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It was goal-for-goal to start the second half as Peter Wright kicked his first for the game, as did Xavier Duursma. But every time the Bombers looked like they were reducing the deficit, the Cats scored with goals of their own.

The game opened up with 12 goals for the term, but though Essendon scored five, Geelong outscored them with seven.

The Bombers were unable to register a goal in the final term, whilst the Cats continued with their attack adding seven further goals to run away 95-point winners.

Cats' keys have a day out

Jeremy Cameron was at his absolute best in the Saturday twilight match, kicking a bag of six. Cameron was an absolute handful for the Bomber defenders, often losing his opponent deep inside 50. He was supported by his new partner in crime, Shannon Neale who kicked four of his own. The two continue to refine their craft as they become one of the game's most dangerous duos.

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A tonne for the Scott brothers

Saturday afternoon's match between Essendon and Geelong was the 1000th combined AFL game for Brad and Chris Scott. Brad played 168 games at Hawthorn and Brisbane and has coached 270 at North Melbourne and Essendon, whilst Chris played 215 for the Lions and has been in charge for 348 games at Geelong. In a remarkable coincidence, the twin brother's sides lined up against each other to mark the occasion. Unfortunately, for Brad it will be a milestone he'll want to forget, whilst on the other hand it will be a favoured memory for Chris.

Brad Scott during the round 14 match between Essendon and Geelong at the MCG, June 14, 2025. Picture: AFL Photos

ESSENDON 2.4 3.7 8.7 8.8 (56)

GEELONG 6.3 9.6 16.8 23.13 (151)

GOALS

Essendon: Guelfi 2, Wright 2, Gresham, Duursma, Roberts, Kako

Geelong: Cameron 6, Neale 4, Mannagh 3, Dangerfield 2, Dempsey 2, Close, Holmes, Humphries, Stengle, Miers, Stanley

BEST

Essendon: Setterfield, Merrett, Goldstein, Prior, Guelfi

Geelong: Cameron, Smith, Holmes, Neale, Dempsey

INJURIES

Essendon: Nil

Geelong: Sam De Koning (shoulder)

SUBSTITUTES

Essendon: Archie Perkins (replaced Archer Day-Wicks in the third quarter)

Geelong: Mitch Duncan (replaced Sam De Koning in the third quarter)

Crowd: 61,643 at the MCG

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