The old adage that defence wins championships is certainly proving true for the Cats this year. 

Geelong's side is stacked full of talented individuals, Bailey Smith and Max Holmes are dominating through the midfield, offensively they have been dominant and Jeremy Cameron sits six goals clear on top of the Coleman Medal leaderboard. 

But one incredible factor that perhaps does not get as much recognition as it should is Geelong's pressure, their tackling prowess hitting extraordinary heights so far in 2025. 

The Cats currently average 66.6 tackles per game, the second highest average of any team in the competition this year and Geelong's highest average since the 2018 AFL season. 

Their pressure was immense once again in Saturday's clash with Essendon as they stormed to a fifth consecutive win, kicking 16.11 (107) from intercepts at the MCG which is the second highest total in this statistic by any side this season.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 14: Zach Merrett of the Bombers is tackled by Tyson Stengle of the Cats during the 2025 AFL Round 14 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Geelong Cats at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 14, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

This elite pressure is lead of course by tough on-baller, Tom Atkins who is on record pace with 135 tackles to this point of the season, 37 clear of the next best player in the competition. 

Currently the record for the most tackles in a season is held by Scott Selwood, who laid a total of 202 tackles in the 2011 season. 

Despite Atkins' prowess, it has also been a wider focus of the Geelong team this year with 10 different players averaging at least three tackles per game. 

But what might be most impressive about the Cats pressure is that it goes to greater levels in the forward half, comfortably the best tackling team inside forward 50 in 2025. 

Laying another 13 tackles inside the paint of 50 against Essendon, Geelong average 15.6 tackles inside 50 per game this year. For context, no team has averaged over 15 tackles inside 50 per game across a season since the statistic started being recorded in 2015. 

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 14: Bailey Smith of the Cats tackles Zach Merrett of the Bombers during the round 14 AFL match between Essendon Bombers and Geelong Cats at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on June 14, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

Another sign of the whole team approach to this campaign, five different Geelong players rank within the AFL's top 10 players for tackles inside 50 this year. 

Tyson Stengle (29 tackles I50) leads the way for the Cats and sits second in the competition, closely followed by Tom Atkins (23) Shannon Neale (20), Jeremy Cameron and Shaun Mannagh (18). 

Creating stoppages in their forward half has allowed Geelong's forward line to get dangerous, a big factor in the Cats offensive prowess so far in 2025. 

When the effort matches the skill level for the Cats, it creates a potent combination that has helped them to ascend all the way to second position on the ladder in 2025.