It seems to be a common theme in 2025, Geelong just find a way to win.
The Cats prevailed in another high-scoring, nail-biting clash on Thursday night as they defeated the Western Bulldogs by 14 points at GMHBA Stadium.
Geelong had to withstand constant challenges throughout the night from the Bulldogs, but always came up with an answer as they registered their seventh win of the 2025 season.
Jeremy Cameron and Shannon Neale lead from the front, booting 11 goals between them and registering 20 score involvements, with Neale kicking two crucial majors in a tense final quarter.
Bailey Smith (33 disposals, six clearances) and Max Holmes (33 disposals, eight clearances) dominated through the middle, while Gryan Miers (23 disposals, seven score involvements) was heavily influential in Geelong's slick ball movement.
The opening term was played at a frenetic pace and certainly lived up to the pre-game hype, both teams booting five goals as the Cats trailed by just three points at the first break.
Geelong set the tone right from the word go, slingshotting the footy from one end of the ground to the other in a brilliant transition play, finding Jeremy Cameron who curled home the opening goal early in the first period.
Max Holmes and Bailey Smith were finding the footy with ease early, accumulating 23 disposals between them in the first quarter, while Tyson Stengle had a profound impact inside forward 50 with four score involvements.
Again it was Jeremy Cameron who opened proceedings with a major early in the second term, but this time it sparked an avalanche as Geelong piled on six unanswered goals to open up a healthy 25-point buffer at the main break.
A dominant quarter of footy was inspired by Cameron, who followed up his seven goal performance against Port Adelaide with four majors in the first half on Thursday night.
Max Holmes (21 disposals, five clearances) and Bailey Smith (16 disposals, seven score involvements) continued to have a big impact through the middle, while Shannon Neale stamped his authority with seven score involvements and two goals in the first half.
Holmes set GMHBA Stadium alight with a daring run down the wing in the third term, dashing away from all pursuers with multiple bounces and finishing brilliantly to kick a sensational goal.
The two teams traded blows in a fascinating quarter of football with 12 goals kicked, the Bulldogs ultimately able to pull closer as Geelong's margin narrowed to 10-points at the final break.
The Bulldogs drew within a kick early in the final term and held all the momentum, but a brilliant snap from Ollie Dempsey gave the Cats a little bit of breathing room at a crucial stage of the match.
Once again the Dogs responded and levelled the scores, before Geelong pieced together another brilliant transition play and released Shannon Neale goal-side, the big Cat rolling through his fourth major and snatching the lead back for his side.
With time ticking down, Neale got another opportunity from a forward stoppage and made no mistake, landing a decisive blow with his fifth goal of the contest.
Tyson Stengle put the cherry on top with his second of the night, as Geelong held on to record a stirring 14-point victory over the Bulldogs.
2025 AFL Season - Round 11
GEELONG CATS 5.1 11.4 16.5 20.7 (127)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 5.4 6.9 13.13 16.17 (113)
GOALS
Geelong Cats: Cameron 6, Neale 5, Mannagh, Stengle 2, Holmes, O.Henry, Blicavs, Atkins, Dempsey 1
Western Bulldogs: Naughton, Kennedy 3, Vandermeer, Richards, Khamis 2, West, Freijah, English, Davidson 1
BEST
Geelong: Cameron, Holmes, Neale, Smith, Blicavs
Western Bulldogs: Richards, Kennedy, O’Donnell, Bontempelli, Lobb
DISPOSALS
Geelong Cats: Smith, Holmes 33, Miers 23, Stewart, Mannagh 21
Western Bulldogs: Liberatore 31, Richards 29, Kennedy 25, Bontempelli 23, Dale 22
INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Geelong Cats: Ted Clohesy (replaced Ollie Henry in the fourth quarter)
Western Bulldogs: Lachlan Bramble (replaced Luke Cleary at three quarter time)
CROWD: 32,641 @ GMHBA Stadium
