Geelong has slumped to a 26 point loss on a disappointing afternoon at ENGIE Stadium, as the GWS Giants extended their strong record over the Cats with a fourth consecutive victory. 

The visitors started sprightly with a strong opening term but struggled to gain the ascendancy from there, GWS kicking five goals in each of the final three quarters with Geelong unable to stop their momentum through the middle of the ground. 

A positive takeaway from the game was the performance of key forward, Shannon Neale who equalled his career-high with a five goal haul while plucking numerous contested marks, helping to keep Geelong in the contest for much of the afternoon. 

Gryan Miers (22 disposals, one goal) fought valiantly and did everything he could to ignite Geelong's ball movement, while Tom Stewart (29 disposals, 13 intercept possessions) was brilliant in defence. 

The Cats started the afternoon in brilliant fashion, as they kicked the opening three goals of the game in just six minutes of play, carving out a 13-point lead at quarter time. 

Miers was everywhere early collecting nine disposals and three score involvements in the first term, Ollie Dempsey and Shaun Mannagh were heavily influential with their run and carry while also pushing forward to impact the scoreboard. 

But momentum shifted in the blink of an eye to start the second term, GWS piled on five unanswered goals in a 15 minute burst to put the Cats on the back foot, late goals to Neale and Jack Bowes pulling Geelong back within a kick at the main break. 

Tom Stewart and Jack Henry helped to limit the damage in defence picking off 12 intercept possessions between them, while Mark Blicavs started to have an influence around stoppages with four clearances. 

00:50

Lightning start stuns as first goal lands in just 20 seconds

Shaun Mannagh fires the running finish within seconds of the opening bounce as Geelong starts hot

The Cats were able to stay in the contest for the majority of the third quarter, Shannon Neale slotting his third major to pull his side back within seven points at the 22 minute mark, but a late three goal burst from Aaron Cadman sent the Giants 25 points clear heading into the final break. 

Geelong managed to kick five goals of their own in the last quarter but failed to make any inroads into the deficit, GWS matching it with five goals of their own as the Cats slipped to a 26 point loss at ENGIE Stadium. 

Get down to GMHBA Stadium on Tuesday morning for a Cats open training session, before Geelong take on St Kilda at home next Sunday afternoon. 

2025 AFL Season - Round 18

GWS GIANTS          2.1     7.5     12.8     17.9    (111)  
GEELONG CATS     4.2     6.5      8.7     13.7     (85)  

GOALS
GWS Giants: Cadman 6, Stringer 4, Greene 2, Riccardi, Jones, Hogan, Brown, Bedford 1
Geelong Cats: Neale 5, Miers, Mannagh, Dempsey, Cameron, Bowes, Holmes, O.Henry, Close 1

BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Cadman, Callaghan, Whitfield, Green, Briggs, Ash, Stringer
Geelong: Neale, Miers, Stewart, Smith, Dempsey

DISPOSALS
GWS Giants: Whitfield 32, Callaghan 29, Ash 27, Green 24, Rowston 20
Geelong Cats: Stewart 29, Smith 26, Miers, Blicavs 22

INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
Geelong: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
GWS Giants: Harvey Thomas (replaced Jesse Hogan in the fourth quarter)
Geelong Cats: Ollie Henry (replaced George Stevens in the third quarter)

Crowd: TBC at ENGIE Stadium