Intro
The Cats and Saints renewed rivalries down at Kardinia Park. Although the Saints’ recent record again Geelong has been good, they had not won a match down at GMHBA Stadium since the turn of the last century.
Geelong needed to win this match to get themselves back on track and headed to a top four position. Another unexpected loss and the Cats may just find themselves fighting to stay in the top eight.
The Saints were playing for pride, with finals now gone for the current season. So pride, along with the love of a teammate and warrior in Cal Wilkie celebrating game #150. It’s been an incredible journey of consistency for Wilke.
But enough chit chat. Let get to the game, and look at the stuff that mattered…
The Best Stuff
Mind Your Mannagh’s
If you don’t follow Geelong, you may have missed the rise and rise of Shaun Mannagh. A VFL journeyman getting drafted by the Cats in 2023, most people know the basics of the story.
Mannagh forced his way into the Geelong team in 2024 but still had some struggles adjusting to the Cats game. In 2025, he is now made himself a vital piece of the Geelong puzzle. He is as much a ball mover in the Geelong midfield as Bailey Smith, as much of an attacking weapon as Tyson Stengle, and as much of a pressure fanatic as Tom Atkins. If Geelong are to get serious for the back half of 2025 and genuinely contend, Mannagh has to continue making himself a big piece of that puzzle.
NAS – Need for Speed
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is jut too good. He is only starting to scratch the surface of how good he can be. He was delpoyed in the midfield by Ross Lyon during this game and he cleaned up. He adds an extra dimension that the Saints midfield rotation that was lacking. His speed, creativity, and dare are just so far removed to what others were offering in there. He’s just about uncatchable and un-tackleable in the open field. When you’re ducking and weaving and evading the AFL’s best tackler and pressure player in 2025 like it’s a Sunday stroll, you’ve got some serious moves. Who knows how, but St Kilda need to make a deal with the devil to keep him beyond 2025… by any means necessary.
The Good Stuff
Jack Martin – Back from the dead
Played his best game for the Cats since coming across during the off-season. Martin appears to have found his way into the Cats’ best 23. With Ollie Henry one of the two players omitted for this match, as Stengle and De Koning came back in, Martin appears to have moved ahead of him. With the Cats now pretty much full health in terms of experienced players, Martin should take great confidence from the faith shown in him. Firstly to bring him across and take a gamble on him, and then his ability to earn a consistent spot in a finals-aspiring team.
There’s a man on the wing
If Ollie Dempsey has not re-cemented to you that the wing is a specialist position, then nothing will. There are other great wing players in the AFL, The Mongrel himself has a bi-weekly article giving you the rankings. Dempsey rates highly, but is not currently at number one. But his ability to hold and create havoc on one side of the ground is crazy. He is just such an attacking weapon for Geelong.
Editor’s note – I do rate him as the best offensive wingman in the game, by a fair stretch, too – HB
The Other Stuff
Jezza’s goal
Can Jezza reach the 100? Cameron has the Coleman medal wrapped up, barring an injury or suspension. Another five goals in this match, and with some opposition teams he has good records against to come…. could he? It’s unlikely, but one can dream.
To the River, quick!
There were multiple incredible goals kicked at the river end, with the commentators speculating on a slight slope of the ground due to the favourable bounces for both players for the ball to roll through. First the skinny wings, the field is downhill one way? What other little gems can the commentators offer next week?
Hopefully, something of merit.
Commentators Curse
The commentators did enjoy their own work when Geelong was cruising at nine goals straight during the second quarter. Starting to look up how many goals the Cats had previously kicked before scoring a behind. Only for Geelong to miss two very easy opportunities just minutes apart to ruin the fun.
They do it every time.
The Wrap
Geelong Cats
The Cats did enough. They got the win they needed and get the ball rolling to secure the best finals position they can with a solid run home to September. Only one more trip interstate against the Swans, two more matches at Kardinia Park and no finals teams in sight.
The possible loss of Tom Stewart could be concerning, but they have shown they have the flexibility to cover the loss of anyone, if he is out for a few weeks.
St Kilda
It’s an honourable loss for the Saints. Had they not given up the first five goals of the game, they would’ve been in this match up to their eyeballs and, by rights, could’ve stolen an upset victory. Even with giving up the head start, they continually hung around and annoyed the Cats. Had they just kicked a little straighter at goal, the Kardinia Park faithful would’ve been stress-eating their beanies.
Still, there are plenty of good signs for the Saints. Tauru had some great moments again, and would’ve learnt plenty from matching up against one of the best forwards in the AFL. The experience gap between the two teams was telling. St Kilda had 12 players in the 80 games or less bracket. They just need to keep trusting the Ross Lyon process. The man knows how to build a team. He hasn’t just turned over the list, he’s turned over the entire clubs’ staff!
