Geelong was brave and never stopped trying. But not enough Cats were up for the fight on a night a rising forward produced his best game yet.

Foxfooty.com.au rates all 23 Geelong players out of 10 from its semi-final loss to Fremantle.

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2. Jay Polkinghorne

A tough night for the 20-year old in his eighth AFL game and second final. Rarely sighted with only four disposals and one mark. Oscar McDonald got the job done. 2

3. Bailey Smith

Fought his heart out all night as Geelong’s best through the midfield. Finished with game-highs in disposals (29) and metres gained (751) to go with 11 score involvements. Freo targeted him early after Shai Bolton’s first goal. Can never question his effort. 8

4. Tanner Bruhn

Solid night across halfback. Provided some run and dash to help launch Geelong’s transition game, with 18 disposals, six marks and 543 metres gained — the fourth-most of any player on the ground. 6

5. Jeremy Cameron

Far from 100 per cent, but battled through. Started on a wing but got moved forward after barely touching it in the early parts of the game. Kicked two goals but not the superstar Jezza that can take over games. Off-season surgery on his troublesome arm can’t come quick enough. 5

7. Shaun Mannagh

Built into the game after a slow start. His usual silky, dangerous self at times but didn’t use the ball as well as he can. Ended with two goals from 17 disposals. 6

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9. Max Holmes

Heavily managed again with 68 per cent game time and clearly still not fully fit with that ankle issue. Looked particularly ginger before half-time after a collision with Shai Bolton, just when the Cats star started to get his side going. Still managed 18 touches. 5

11. Mitch Edwards

The 21-year old came off early with a finger issue and never got going. Luke Jackson completely dominated him in the first quarter in man v boy stuff, with clearances out of control. A decisive matchup on the night. 2

14. Connor O’Sullivan

Held his own on Josh Treacy, who was particularly quiet early, in a very solid night from the rising Cats star defender. Came off with an injury concern in the fourth quarter but returned. 6

17. Lawson Humphries

A pretty good night for the defender. Found enough of the footy and used it well despite being constantly under the pump. Had 22 touches at over 80 per cent efficiency with seven marks, seven intercepts and 492 metres gained. 7

21. Oli Wiltshire

Kicked an important goal late in the first quarter — Geelong’s second for the game — when they seriously needed it. Dug in early and looked dangerous, but moved further up the ground for Jeremy Cameron later and struggled to get involved. 5

28. Ollie Dempsey

The All-Australian was down on his brilliant best form. Limited defensive coverage in the first half when Geelong got opened up by some scintillating Freo slingshot. A freakish scissor goal in the third term was called touched looked unlucky on the replay. 5

30. Tom Atkins

Little impact against Fremantle’s dominant, star-studded midfield and outmatched in an area of the ground Geelong needed more. Just nine touches with six tackles. 3

32. Gryan Miers

A really quiet three-disposal first half after he was one of Geelong’s best last week against Carlton. Responded with five touches in the third term to help ignite the Cats but very little else outside of that. 4

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33. Shannon Neale

Kicked three goals, so did his job. But didn’t quite have his usual aerial presence inside 50, nor did he look capable of stepping up as the number one option in attack. Limited opportunities for most of the first half when Geelong was under the pump. Had Alex Pearce for company. 6

34. Oisin Mullin

Had the assignment on Caleb Serong and you’d have to give the points to Serong. Mullin still honest and solid enough, with 17 touches (11 contested). 5

35. Patrick Dangerfield

The 36-year old champ picked up right where he left off with an epic long-running goal to get the Cats on the board when they were in all sorts early. Set up an important fast-break goal to Ollie Henry in the second term, too, and played with the same beastly presence as against Carlton. Kicked 2.2 from 14 touches and seven marks as one of Geelong’s best and most likely types. 7

36. Ollie Henry

Geelong’s best in a career night for the rising forward. Booted a personal best five goals and at times it felt like he single-handedly kept the visitors in the game as their clear most dangerous forward. That included a stunning third quarter with three of his four goals from eight touches. “What a quarter he’s having!,” Fox Footy caller Dwayne Russell exclaimed. Demons great Garry Lyon added: “Patty Dangerfield’s had a good breather, (Henry’s) gone back deep, he’s got every right to say: ‘Get out of my road, Patty’.” Ended with 20 disposals (13 contested — the most of any Cat). 8

38. Jack Henry

Held Jye Amiss reasonably well. The Dockers forward booted two goals from four disposals. Henry had an equal game-high eight intercept, too. 5

39. Zach Guthrie

A particularly strong first half as the only Cat rated among the top 10 players on the ground. Couple of strong marks in defence early when his side was under siege and played with great confidence out of the back-half. Tallied an equal game-high eight intercepts with 18 touches and seven marks. 7

42. Mark O’Connor

The no-fuss Irishman was tasked with Murphy Reid at times and held his own around the contest. 5

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44. Tom Stewart

A tough night in defence against Freo’s high-octane attack and was well beaten by Patrick Voss early. Voss looked dangerous and found space inside 50 early in the first quarter with two goals to really expose Geelong’s five-time All-Australian veteran. “Chris Scott’s got a decision to make with Tom Stewart and Patrick Voss,” Demons great Garry Lyon said. Hawks champion Jordan Lewis added: “That’s the challenge for me because the Geelong defenders look all out at sea.” Stewart kick a cracking, rare goal in the final minute and a half, but it was too little, too late. 3

45. Brad Close

Couldn’t get into the game. Lowered his eyes to spot up Shannon Neale at the top of the square in a brilliant play just before half-time, but did little else. Spent the majority of the night on the fourth term on the bench. 2

46. Mark Blicavs

At times played a defensive assignment on the red-hot Luke Jackson, but nothing could slow the Dockers unicorn down. The 35-year old Blicavs dropped back as the spare in defence early when his side was under siege. 2