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Catch up on all the action from Geelong’s clash with North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium

GEELONG has torn apart North Melbourne in a 101-point victory, with Jeremy Cameron kicking a career high 11-goals to extend the longest active winning streak over an opposition team to 13 consecutive wins. 

The Cats seized their spot back in the top four, securing their first win at Marvel Stadium in two years, with a final score of 7.7 (49) to 22.18 (150). 

Bailey Smith was back in Brownlow contention after a quiet two weeks, notching up an equal career-best of his own with 43 disposals, 13 clearances and a goal.

Max Holmes also impressed and was left relatively unattended by the Roos midfield throughout the game, snagging 29 disposals, seven clearances and 664 metres gained.

Without Nick Larkey for the third consecutive week, defender Charlie Comben moved forward as a tall option, flanked by Cameron Zurhaar and Paul Curtis. Whilst the latter duo each kicked multiple goals, it wasn’t enough with six cumulative North Melbourne goals not even close to bridging the gap. 

The Cats’ forward line was on fire, and no matter what Alastair Clarkson threw at the defence, it wasn’t enough to stop the bleeding on the scoreboard. Forward Zane Duursma also found himself moved around, replicating his half-back spot in the VFL last week. 

But for all of Clarkson’s magnet moving, the most baffling was not assigning anyone to be Jeremy Cameron’s shadow until the third quarter, when Toby Pink was sent to be glued to his side. 

However, it was too little too late, as the damage had been done by the Coleman Medal leader who slotted five goals in the first half, and finished with a career high 11 by the game’s end. 

And if it wasn’t Cameron inside-50 it was Shannon Neale, who kicked four goals and took eight marks.  

Despite the carnage to the scoreboard, both teams left relatively unscathed on the injury front with both subs used tactically. Patrick Dangerfield was subbed out of his 200th game in the blue hoops, for Lawson Humphries in the third term, whilst Roo Robert Hansen Jr came on for Jacob Konstanty in the fourth.

In what was an ultimately dismal showing from North Melbourne, veteran Luke Parker was the shining light, displaying his seniority with 31 disposals and five clearances, whilst Colby McKercher had 32 touches and 6 marks. 

But for what it was worth, Geelong was still too strong.

With a dominant exhibition of football, Chris Scott’s Cats took their spot back in the top four in a bloodbath that saw the first triple-digit margin of 2025. 

2025 AFL Season – Round 20

NORTH MELBOURNE     2.2      3.4       3.5       7.7     (49)  
GEELONG CATS             4.6    11.10    19.15   22.18   (150)  
GOALS
North Melbourne: Zurhaar 3, Curtis 2, Maley, Darling 1
Geelong Cats: Cameron 11, Neale 4, Stengle 2, Stanley, Smith, Miers, Humphries, Bowes 1

BEST
North Melbourne: Parker, McKercher, Sheezel, Powell, Simpkin
Geelong: Smith, Cameron, Holmes, Atkins, Miers

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Geelong: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Robert Hansen Jnr (replaced Jacob Konstanty in the fourth quarter)
Geelong Cats: Lawson Humphries (replaced Patrick Dangerfield in the third quarter)

Crowd: TBC at Marvel Stadium