It was simply a must-win game in the context of their season and Geelong did enough to get the job done, a strong first half helping to overcome a late challenge from Collingwood as they recorded a 25-point victory at the MCG on Thursday night. 

A barnstorming start to the contest saw the Cats lead by as much as 49 points midway through the second quarter, before the Magpies slowly chipped away at the lead and closed within three goals at the last break, but Geelong had the answers when it mattered in a tense final term. 

Continuing his remarkable record at the venue, Ollie Dempsey was absolutely sensational and fought hard all night, finding plenty of space on the wide expanses of the MCG with his phenomenal running capacity and testing the Magpies in attack. 

Against his former side, Ollie Henry was terrific in attack and was instrumental in Geelong's big start, while Gryan Miers and Shaun Mannagh had a number of important touches and helped to create numerous opportunities in front of goal. 

The stakes were high and the stars got involved early for the Cats with Bailey Smith, Oisin Mullin and Tom Atkins all getting involved in a chain out of the opening stoppage, which led to a big clunk and goal from Shannon Neale. 

Geelong dominated the territory battle in the first term, consistently probing inside forward 50 and eventually it paid dividends, Ollie Dempsey producing a sensational pair of highlights to help give the Cats five of the opening six goals, building a 24-point lead at quarter time. 

Tom Atkins was instrumental early with eight disposals and three clearances in the opening term, Ollie Henry registered a game-high four score involvements, while the ever-reliable Tom Stewart helped to limit Collingwood's efficiency in their attacking half with some big defensive plays. 

01:09

‘Not just a lockdown player’: Mullin’s early points as Neale deals first blow

Oisin Mullin pushes forward despite his tagging assignment before Shannon Neale clunks a strong mark and slots the opener inside a minute

The hot start became an onslaught shortly after the first break, as the Cats put the foot down and started to capitalise on their dominance around the ground. 

A run of four majors in nine minutes of play to start the second term put Geelong in full control of the contest, the lead nudging 50 points before the Magpies had registered their second goal of the night. 

Despite the immaculate start, there would be a subtle momentum shift prior to half time as Collingwood booted the last three goals of the quarter to trim the margin, but Geelong still took a healthy 29-point lead into the main break. 

The stat sheet told the tale of the tape in the first half, the Cats leading the inside 50 count (+13) and the clearance battle (+7), plenty of the play set up by Dempsey who collected 16 disposals to go with his two goals to the main break. 

Ollie Henry continued to be influential with two goals and two goal assists from his 10 disposals, James Worpel had an impact around stoppages with seven clearances, while Atkins laid six tackles but also drove the Cats inside 50 on six occasions in the opening half. 

Collingwood extended their run of unanswered goals to five after half time, Geelong's massive lead all of a sudden cut under three goals midway through the third term, and the feeling around the MCG was remarkably different to what it was 45 minutes prior. 

When the Cats were desperate for a steadier, it came in the form of Jack Martin who slotted his first of the night off the back of some great work from Oli Wiltshire, but it was only a brief moment of respite as Geelong's lead sat at 17 points heading into the final term. 

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 30: Darcy Cameron of the Magpies and Mitchell Edwards of the Cats compete for the ball during the round 21 AFL match between Collingwood Magpies and Geelong Cats at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on July 30, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

With both teams grappling for the ascendancy in a tense final term, Geelong's key pillars of Shannon Neale and Jay Polkinghorne capitalised on a pair of opportunities in front of goal, helping the Cats to keep their opponent at bay until midway through the quarter. 

At a crucial juncture in the match, Ollie Henry wobbled home his third major of the night to extend Geelong's lead back beyond four goals, the Cats doing enough to escape with a crucial victory. 

2026 AFL Season - Round 21

COLLINGWOOD    1.2   4.4    7.6   10.12   (72)  
GEELONG CATS    5.2   9.3   10.5    15.7   (97) 

GOALS
Collingwood: McStay 5, McCreery 2, West, Harrison, Anderson 1
Geelong Cats: O.Henry, Polkinghorne 3, Neale, Dempsey 2, Miers, Martin, Mannagh, Blicavs, Wiltshire 1

Crowd: 60,023 at the MCG