Geelong’s VFL side has lost their second consecutive match, coming up short against Essendon on Saturday, 12.12 (84) to 13.13 (91).

The match started with an arm wrestle of a first term as both sides came out firing, with only two points separating them at the first change.

The Cats got the upper hand in the second quarter and took a two-goal lead into half time thanks to three majors from Rhys Stanley.

Despite Wylie Buzza kicking an early goal, the third term belonged to the home side as they dominated play to take a 22-point lead into the final break.

In the final term, two early goals to the Bombers saw them stretch their lead out to 34 points before the Cats kicked into gear.

The visitors came storming home with five late goals but it proved to be too little, too late as the home side ran out seven-point victors.

The loss was the Cats’ third of the season and sees them drop out of the top eight on the VFL ladder.

Cats coach Shane O’Bree lamented the lapse that his side experienced late in the third term and early in the fourth where the Bombers kicked seven unanswered goals.

“We had three and a half good quarters and then that 15-minute chunk where we lost our way a bit,” O’Bree said.

“I thought we had control of the game but that was probably our worst 15 minutes of the year.”

Jamaine Jones was Geelong’s best on the day, racking up 17 touches and kicking two goals as he pushes towards an AFL debut.

The Cats tall forwards performed well with Wylie Buzza and Rhys Stanley combining for seven goals.

“(Stanley and Buzza) were pretty dominant in the air and they had a lot of opportunities too, we had a focus on getting the ball into them,” O’Bree said.

“I thought they competed pretty well and took most of their opportunities.”

First game player Pat Dowling played well in his first VFL match and looked confident with the ball.

Dowling played across half-back and was one of the Cats’ most efficient ball users on the day, totalling 16 disposals, 12 by foot and five marks.

“(Dowling) was really good, he played his role and used the ball really well,” O’Bree said.

“We were really pleased with his first game and the impact he had on the game.”

After a best on ground performance against Collingwood last week, Ryan Abbott was again amongst the best players, racking up 22 hitouts and 18 possessions.

“I thought Abbott’s ruck work was really good, he is jumping at the ball and getting after it and having impact around the ground,” O’Bree said.

Midfield bulls Tom Atkins (18 touches, 6 tackles) and Jordan Keras (25 touches, seven tackles) were inspirational and fought hard all day.

The VFL Cats will look to get back on the winners list next Saturday when they return to GMHBA Stadium to take on Williamstown.

VFL Round 7 – Bendigo Bank Cats 11.12 (78) def. by Essendon 13.13 (91)
Goals: Stanley 4, Buzza 3, Jones 2, McCarthy, Abbott, Keras
Best: Jones, Atkins, Dowling, Keras, Stanley, Abbott
Reports: Nil
Injuries: Nil @ Windy Hill, Essendon