It was tough, it was wet and at times it was not overly pretty, but Geelong has held on to record a gritty and important eight point win over Adelaide at GMHBA Stadium on Thursday night. 

With consistent rain throughout the night creating greasy and difficult conditions, the Cats grabbed an early lead and stayed in front for over 90 minutes of the match but struggled to land a decisive blow, before a classy Jack Martin goal proved to be the sealer midway through the last quarter. 

Where many players struggled to handle the ball cleanly, Bailey Smith looked a class above as he finished with a game-high 39 disposals and six clearances, while also laying 10 tackles and registering five score involvements in a phenomenal display. 

Martin (three goals) played a pivotal role in attack on a night where scoring was hard to come by, Tom Stewart (24 disposals, nine intercepts) was ultra important in defence, while Mark Blicavs (24 disposals, four clearances) and Shaun Mannagh (24 disposals, eight score involvements) were also brilliant. 

After the opening two games of the season, the importance of a fast start had never been more clearly evident for Geelong and they were quick to stamp their authority on the contest, recording 16 of the first 18 inside 50s and building a handy 14 point lead by quarter time. 

Tom Stewart was unlikely first goal kicker as he slotted the seventh major of his career, Oli Wiltshire looked lively and had some nice moments early, while Shaun Mannagh and Ollie Dempsey handled the ball cleanly in difficult conditions to have a substantial impact in the opening term.

Geelong extended their advantage early in the second quarter through Jack Martin, but had to withstand a resurgence from Adelaide has they kicked three unanswered goals, before Martin bookended the term with his second major to put the Cats eight points clear at the main break. 

Statistically, the Cats controlled major facets of the game in the opening half including the inside 50 count (+13), centre clearances (+5) and contested possessions (+14), but struggled to capitalise on the scoreboard despite their dominance around the ground. 

Bailey Smith (17 disposals, four clearances) and Tom Atkins (13 disposals, five tackles) were instrumental through the midfield, Tom Stewart (13 disposals, seven intercepts) was rock solid in defence, while Mannagh (10 disposals, five score involvements) provided a spark inside forward 50. 

The rain returned in the third quarter and the two teams engaged in an enthralling battle, but the Cats squandered opportunities in front of the big sticks and Adelaide closed the gap to just four points heading into the last term. 

Stewart and O’Sullivan picked off an incredible 17 intercept possessions between them through the first three quarters, helping to stifle many of Adelaide’s attacking forays and keeping the Cats in front at the final break. 

The Crows briefly put their noses in front and set up a tense finish in the last quarter, Geelong clawed their way back into the lead with a flurry of points before Jack Martin finished brilliantly on the run, his third goal giving the Cats a little bit of breathing room at a pivotal moment in the match. 

Ollie Dempsey added another major from a mad scramble in the goal square, as the Cats held on to record an important eight point victory. 

After a brutal contest on Thursday night, the Cats will now have an extended break to set themselves for a blockbuster Easter Monday clash against Hawthorn at the MCG. 

2026 AFL Season – Round 3

GEELONG     4.4     6.5    7.9   9.14   (68)  
ADELAIDE    2.2     5.3    7.5    9.6   (60) 
GOALS
Geelong: Martin 3, Dempsey 2, Stewart, Mannagh, Holmes, O.Henry 1
Adelaide: Taylor 3, Thilthorpe, Rankine, Rachele, Cumming, Neal-Bullen, Murray 1

BEST
Geelong: Holmes, Dempsey, Martin, Smith, De Koning, Blicavs
Adelaide: Rachele, Rankine, Butts, Worrell, Thilthorpe, Berry

INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Adelaide: Nil

CROWD: 20,403 @ GMHBA Stadium