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Cameron steers Cats home
Jeremy Cameron has continued to repay the faith in Geelong’s recruiting team, who gave up three top 20 draft picks to drag him south from Greater Western Sydney.
Cameron brought up his 600th career goal against the Blues with a brilliant piece of roving from a forward ruck contest that allowed him to swing out on his left foot and snap a goal – his second for the match.
The big forward kicked five for the game and was tireless as he stretched the Carlton defence, continually pushing high up the ground and then turning and dashing towards goal like a greyhound in pursuit of a lure.
When Carlton closed within eight points deep into the last quarter, Cameron bobbed up again to kick the sealer.
Superstar: Jeremy Cameron booted five goals in arguably a best-on-ground effort.Credit: AFL Photos / Getty Images
His accuracy was infectious. Geelong’s composure in front of goal allowed them to maintain a lead throughout the match, despite Carlton dominating the inside 50 count. At one stage the Cats kicked 12.3 from set shots
Cameron booted 471 goals in his time with Greater Western Sydney and now has 176 for the Cats. It helps when you have the likes of Gryan Miers delivering into the forward 50m arc. He continues to be the league’s best kick inside 50m.
Zach Tuohy was an unlikely hero for Geelong with three goals, while Tom Hawkins didn’t register a major.
Great wall of Geelong
Geelong’s back six, led by Max Holmes and Mitch Duncan, held firm all game.
They would have made a meteorologist proud, weathering storm after storm. Then they launched devastating counterattacks.
Holmes had 26 possessions across halfback, while Duncan had 24 disposals.
The Cats defence was complemented by the return of Cam Guthrie, who has been out of the game for 12 months. He and brother Zach, alongside Jack Henry and Sam De Koning, helped form a formidable wall. They were able to mark, mop up and thwart what threatened to be, at times, an onslaught.
If sides are to beat this Geelong side, they are going to need to devise a better way forward. And try and hold the Cats on turnovers and counterattacks.
