Geelong's most recent meeting with Collingwood came in Round 18 last year, on a cold Friday night in front of over 70,000 spectators at the MCG. 

The clash came at a crucial stage of the 2024 season, with both teams entrenched in a ladder logjam that saw second place all the way down to tenth position separated by just two wins. 

Looking to gain the ascendancy early, the Cats got off to a dream start as they kicked three goals inside the first four minutes of the match, needing just 11 disposals to fly out to an early 18 point lead. 

But with the stakes high and pressure intense, it was never going to be one way traffic as Collingwood answered swiftly with four unanswered goals, leaving Geelong six points adrift at quarter time. 

00:34

Gone in 40 seconds Cats torch Pies in opening minute

Geelong bursts out of the gates to stun Collingwood as Shaun Mannagh and Shannon Neale each snare an early goal

Momentum shifted once again early in the second term, the Cats kicking four of the first five majors to take the lead back, led by a double strike from Jeremy Cameron. 

Geelong would carry the lead into the main break, but only four points separated the two sides in a match that was certainly living up to the hype. 

The third quarter followed a similar trend to the first half, with both teams trading blows in a see-sawing affair. 

Cameron booted the first for the Cats, Collingwood hit back with two majors to take the lead, before late goals to Tyson Stengle and Ollie Dempsey gave Geelong an 11-point buffer heading into the final term. 

05:24

Game Film Round 18 | 3 on the Trot

Take a look back at our Round 18 clash at the MCG against the Collingwood Magpies

If things were not tense enough at the MCG, Steele Sidebottom kicked the opening goal of the last quarter after just one minute, trimming the margin to five points and setting up a grandstand finish. 

But with the game on the line, Geelong's leaders stood up and took control of the contest as the Cats kicked away with three unanswered goals, holding Collingwood scoreless for more than 20 minutes to secure a 20-point victory. 

The big takeaway from the match was the Cats ability to control the football, finishing with 70 more marks (145-75) than Collingwood while also finishing well in front in disposals (+56), inside 50s (+21) and clearances (+7). 

Jack Bowes (24 disposals, seven clearances) was awarded the three Brownlow Votes, Jeremy Cameron (three goals) lead the way inside 50, while Lawson Humphries (23 disposals, 96% efficiency) received the Round 18 rising star nomination in just his third AFL match. 

2024 AFL Season - Round 18

COLLINGWOOD      4.5      6.8       8.10      10.11    (71)
GEELONG CATS      3.5      7.6      10.9      13.13     (91)

GOALS
Collingwood: Elliott, Richards 2, Cameron, Crisp, De Goey, Hoskin-Elliott, Lipinski, Sidebottom 1
Geelong: Cameron 3, Neale, Stengle 2, Bowes, Close, Dempsey, O.Henry, Mannagh, Miers 1

DISPOSALS
Collingwood: N.Daicos 32, Sidebottom, Noble 28, De Goey 24, J.Daicos 23
Geelong: Miers, Holmes 27, Stewart 26, Bowes 24, Humphries 23

BROWNLOW VOTES: Jack Bowes (3), Nick Daicos (2), Max Holmes (1)

RISING STAR NOMINATION: Lawson Humphries - 23 Disposals (96% efficiency), 13 Marks, 6 Intercepts

Crowd: 73,435 at MCG