In big games, particularly Finals, there are always a number of significant moments that can decide the match. Usually the winner is the team that can capitalise on those opportunities. 

When the game was on the line during the second and third quarters on Friday night, no players had a greater impact than Shaun Mannagh and Jack Bowes. 

With Brisbane closing the gap and the Cats struggling to convert in front of goal, the duo produced several momentum-shifting moments to help set up key scoring opportunities.

Mannagh sparked the shift with a pair of goal assists, first dancing around Levi Ashcroft and hitting Sam De Koning lace-out, before bullocking his way out of the ensuing centre stoppage to find Bowes inside 50. 

It started a run where Geelong would kick 10 of the next 14 goals to ice the game, Cameron Ling saying that Mannagh and Bowes were pivotal in the victory. 

"The second and third quarters were clearly where Geelong went up a level, and started to break the game," Ling said. 

"Two players I want to talk about whose ability to get in and win the ball in the contest, then break into space and break the game open with their foot speed and everything they do.

"Shaun Mannagh and Jack Bowes.

"That combination, I know who the headliners are with Bailey Smith and Max Holmes in the middle, they certainly have got that to their game. But to be able to then throw Jack Bowes and Shaun Mannagh through there in those quarters, I felt their impact on the game was massive."

Mannagh finished with 15 disposals, nine tackles and eight score involvements, continuing to solidify his reputation as a big game player. 

During the match-defining stretch, Bowes was equally impressive and spent some time inside forward 50 for the Cats, showcasing his class and poise. 

After converting a set-shot to put his side 15 points clear in the second term, Bowes then set up another goal with a clever pass to Ollie Dempsey in the goal square, before having a telling hand in Bailey Smith's spectacular goal that brought the Geelong faithful to their feet in the third quarter. 

Meg McDonald mirrored the sentiment about the two Cats stars. 

"It was quite neutral the game and it was certainly an arm wrestle in the second quarter, then Shaun Mannagh got his footwork going and broke it open," McDonald said. 

"The dancing of his feet, the pop of his kick for the De Koning goal first, then he set up the next one as well. You are getting goals out of players that you wouldn't bank on.

"The deftness of Jack Bowes touch as well, he kicks the goal and then immediately after that goes around the body, very deliberately to Ollie Dempsey in the goal square. They were the difference."