The good news is Jeremy Cameron is back.
Despite the Cats’ narrow loss to Collingwood on Friday night at the MCG, the sight of Cameron in full flight would have been one of the positive takeaways for Geelong supporters heading home after the game.
The mercurial Cameron had two within the first four minutes, and another two by the time the siren sounded to end the first term and by then the Cats had put six on the ladder leaders in the opening stanza for the second time this season, the only team to do it.
Unfortunately, despite Cameron going on to kick 7.4, the result was the same as the first time around with the Magpies withstanding a spirited late charge to run out 8-point winners.
Speaking to Channel 7 post-game, Cameron said he was determined to have an impact on the game after a lean run following his blistering start to the season.
“I've had a fairly lean last five or six weeks and I wanted to come out and show what I can still do," he said.
“I'm just trying to finish off the good work the boys do up the field and it's a pleasure to lead at the boys when it's coming in like that.
“I still could have kicked a bit straighter, so still a bit more practice to do during the week, but we've got a couple of really big games coming up and if the results go our way, we can still sneak in.
“We'll just focus on next week and getting the win there.”
After jumping out the gates, the Magpies matched and then surpassed the Cats at their own game, upping the pressure and forcing the visitors into turnovers but Geelong refused to lie down.
Led by skipper Patrick Dangerfield who would finish the game with the imposing line of 26 disposals, nine clearances, 12 score involvements, and a crucial goal to open the quarter, the Cats went on the attack after the final change with the first six inside 50s and the first five clearances of the quarter but despite giving it a ‘red hot crack’, they would eventually succumb.
“It's obviously a little bit disappointing that we lost but as Patty (Dangerfield) mentioned out there on the ground and we've discussed in here, there's lots of positives to come out of the game as well so don't shy away from that,” he said.
“We probably lapsed a little bit through late in the second quarter and probably the start of the third, but apart from that, we played a pretty good brand of football.
“We know it holds up in the biggest games so it was good to run out the match and give it a red hot crack.”
Geelong has St.Kilda at Marvel Stadium next Saturday night and the Western Bulldogs the following Saturday night to round out the home and away season.
