The VFL Cats competed strongly in a hard fought clash against Essendon on Saturday, closing out a 10.13 (73) to 9.5 (59) victory in their penultimate match of the 2025 home and away season.

Geelong started hot but were given very little breathing room for most of the game, weathering immense pressure from the Bombers who refused to go down without a fight, but the Cats responded when it mattered most.

Key defender, Jake Kolodjashnij looked strong on return despite playing managed minutes, picking off two intercept possessions to go with his nine disposals and a goal in his 2025 season debut.

The midfield pairing of Ted Clohesy (28 disposals, eight tackles, one goal) and George Stevens (30 disposals, 11 clearances, seven tackles) dominated through the centre, controlling stoppages and having a strong impact on the result. 

Jacob Molier led Geelong to an early lead, winning a strong one-on-one contest before following up with a brilliant goal that ignited the Cats. This sparked a flurry of repeat entries inside the forward 50, putting early pressure on Essendon’s defence.

The Cats were strong moving the ball through the corridor, with Clohesy and Stevens combining for 19 early disposals and showcasing sharp ball movement through the midfield.

Oli Wiltshire capped off a terrific opening term with a strong mark in the goal square, converting to give the Cats a comfortable 21-point lead at the first break.

Geelong extended their lead with goals from Tobyn Murray and Clohesy, maintaining relentless aggression across the ground. But Essendon were not letting the game slip away easily.

Momentum swung sharply in the second term, turning into a tightly contested pressure battle as the Bombers pushed the Cats onto the back foot. Essendon piled on four consecutive goals to cut the margin to just 10 points, but Geelong kept their noses in front heading into half time. 

Jake Kolodjashnij thrilled Cats fans in his 2025 debut, surging forward to kick a brilliant goal against the run of play. He was quickly followed by longtime teammate Jed Bews, who slotted his second major of the season.

Nathan Kreuger and Dan Capiron were crucial in defence during the third term, combining for 15 intercept possessions across the match. Their efforts helped to hold Essendon to just a single behind, Geelong stretching their lead to 27 points at the final break.

The final term opened in a goal-for-goal exchange, with Meller drilling his second major to keep Geelong in front. But the Cats were forced to lock down defensively in the dying minutes as the Bombers surged back into the contest to set up a tense finish.

LADDER AFTER GEELONG V ESSENDON

Another goal from Essendon brought them within two kicks, but the run-and-carry efforts of Marcus Herbert and Patrick Retschko launched the ball inside 50, setting up Jay Polkinghorne to deliver the final blow at the siren, sealing a 14-point win for Geelong. 

The Cats will be keeping one eye on Sunday afternoon's matches with Coburg, North Melbourne and Carlton all in action and the results set to have an impact on Geelong's Finals chances. 

The final round of the home and away season will see Geelong head to Sydney, taking on the Swans at 11.35am on Sunday at Tramway Oval. 

2025 VFL Season – Round 20

GEELONG CATS     4.4    6.5    8.11    10.13   (73)
ESSENDON              1.1     5.1     5.2      9.5     (59)

GOALS
Geelong Cats: Mellor 2, Wiltshire, Polkinghorne, Pike, Murray, Molier, Kolodjashnij, Clohesy, Bews 1
Essendon: Scott 3, Smartt, Sellers, Leedham, Hately, Busuttil, Brodie 1

DISPOSALS
Geelong Cats: Stevens, Retschko 30, Clohesy 28, Herbert, Capiron 19
Essendon: O'Neill, Johnson 26, Hately 22, El-Hawli 21, Davey Jnr 20

@ GMHBA Stadium, Geelong