Geelong has prevailed in one of the most dramatic finishes to a match in recent history, defeating Collingwood by three points in front of 82,514 at the MCG on Saturday night. 

The Cats stormed to a commanding lead with four unanswered goals to start the final quarter, before the Magpies pegged back the deficit late to set up a grandstand finish. 

With time ticking down, Jack Crisp had an opportunity to win the game after the final siren but he dragged his kick wide, Geelong hanging on the record a famous victory. 

Patrick Dangerfield dominated throughout the night finishing with 29 disposals, 17 contested possessions and eight score involvements, having a telling hand in numerous scoring opportunities in the final quarter. 

Bailey Smith (34 disposals, five clearances) continued his strong run of form with another terrific display, along with Shaun Mannagh (18 disposals, eight clearances, two goals) and Sam De Koning (10 intercept possessions). 

Geelong started strongly in the opening term, booting four of the first five goals to skip out to an early lead before Collingwood came charging back, leaving the Cats trailing by three points at the first break. 

Bailey Smith made his presence felt early collecting nine disposals in the opening stanza, while Ollie Dempsey soared high into the night sky to pull down another mark of the year contender. 

The Magpies continued to extend their lead early in the second quarter, but Geelong were able to arrest momentum and fight their way back into the contest, remaining just seven points adrift at half time. 

Smith continued his dominant half with 15 disposals and a game high 337 metres gained, while Mitch Duncan did not look out of place in his AFL return, accumulating 13 disposals at 85% efficiency. 

The third quarter continued in a similar trend to the second, with Collingwood threatening to break the game open as they raced out to a 19-point lead, before the Cats wrestled the match back to cut the deficit to seven points at the final break. 

Sam De Koning and Mark O'Connor were immense under pressure in the third term, picking off numerous intercept possessions to help thwart a number of Collingwood attacks early. 

The final quarter was an absolute heart-stopper, as both sides has chances to seal the deal in a dramatic finish to an epic contest. 

Geelong kicked four unanswered goals to start the last term, kicking away to a 17-point lead as time continued to tick down but it was never going to be that simple.

Collingwood mounted one final charge to pull back within a kick late, setting up an opportunity for Jack Crisp to be the hero after the final siren. 

With the game on his boot, Crisp dragged his set-shot wide and the Cats held on to claim an iconic three point victory. 

Geelong return home to GMHBA Stadium next Sunday afternoon, as they take on the GWS Giants. 

2025 AFL Season - Round 8

COLLINGWOOD     4.5      7.7      10.10     12.15    (87) 
GEELONG CATS     4.2      6.6       9.9       13.12     (90)
 
GOALS 
Collingwood: Mihocek 4, Pendlebury, Membrey, Houston, Hill, Elliott, N.Daicos, Cox, Cameron 1
Geelong Cats: Mannagh, Henry, Dempsey 2, Wiltshire, Smith, Neale, Dangerfield, Cameron, Bowes, Blicavs 1

BEST
Collingwood: N.Daicos, Pendlebury, Cameron, J. Daicos, Sidebottom, Mihocek
Geelong: Dangerfield, Smith, Blicavs, Holmes, Atkins, Dempsey

DISPOSALS
Collingwood: J.Daicos 32, N.Daicos 28, Pendlebury 26, Sidebottom 25, Cameron 23
Geelong Cats: Smith 34, Dangerfield 29, Holmes, Atkins 21, Duncan 20

INJURIES
Collingwood: Nil
Geelong: Stanley (hamstring)

SUBSTITUTES 
Collingwood: Will Hoskin-Elliott (replaced Mason Cox in the fourth quarter)
Geelong Cats: Oli Wiltshire (replaced Rhys Stanley in the second quarter)

Crowd: 82,514 @ MCG