{"id":120993,"date":"2025-09-05T15:33:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T15:33:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/120993\/"},"modified":"2025-09-05T15:33:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T15:33:08","slug":"geelong-cats-player-ratings-from-second-qualifying-final-vs-brisbane-analysis-stats-best-and-worst-players","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/120993\/","title":{"rendered":"Geelong Cats player ratings from Second Qualifying Final vs. Brisbane, analysis, stats, best and worst players"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Dash Brothers roared to life in the third quarter to inspire a brilliant Geelong victory<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Geelong\u2019s best defender was back to his best, while a Lions star was blanketed by an unlikely Cats hero.<\/p>\n

We rate every Geelong player out of 10 from their qualifying final vs. Brisbane.<\/p>\n

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3. BAILEY SMITH<\/p>\n

Great to have Bailey back in the finals. Started on a wing next to Jarrod Berry. Took some time for him to warm into the game, but came alive in the third term with eight touches, three clearances and a towering running goal. 7<\/p>\n

5. JEREMY CAMERON<\/p>\n

The All-Australian captain looked untouchable in the first term, winning one-on-ones through strength and footy smarts, while working relentlessly hard up and down the ground to present a link-up option. As expected, was manned up by Ryan Lester \u2014 and Cameron dominated with 2.3 by quarter-time. Bad miss with his first set-shot, but made amends a minute later with Geelong\u2019s first goal. Jason Dunstall declared: \u201cHis confidence is at an all-time high.\u201d Didn\u2019t have the same influence across the rest of the game, but ultimately 10 of his 13 disposals led to Cats scores. 7<\/p>\n

7. SHAUN MANNAGH<\/p>\n

In the middle of a scrappy period in the second term, produced two moments of class with composed, spearing kicks inside 50 that set up goals to Sam De Koning and Jack Bowes. Fox Footy\u2019s Garry Lyon said: \u201cHe\u2019s changed everything with the way they go forward.\u201d Then showed great grit and tenacity in tight multiple times in the second term. Laid nine tackles, while eight of his 15 touches led to Cats scores. Jason Dunstall added: \u201cHe worked his butt off defensively \u2026 I thought it was a brilliant game that the numbers don\u2019t reflect.\u201d 7<\/p>\n

9. MAX HOLMES<\/p>\n

Imagine if he\u2019d played a full prelim against Brisbane last year \u2026 A game-breaking performance, showing just how important he is to Geelong\u2019s premiership chances. Roared to life in the second half with a phenomenal 10-disposal third quarter, including 331m gained, a brilliant running goal and a stunning assist to set up Jack Martin. His third quarter was the second-highest rated quarter ever by a Geelong player in a final\ufeff. Finished with 23 touches, 12 contested possessions, eight inside 50s and six tackles in his 100th game. 9<\/p>\n

12. JACK BOWES<\/p>\n

Came off the bench and onto a wing. Had a couple of big moments in the second quarter, kicking a goal then setting one up for Ollie Dempsey. 7<\/p>\n

13. JHYE CLARK<\/p>\n

Started as the sub \u2014 and was only subbed on in the final minutes when the game was over. N\/A<\/p>\n

14. CONNOR O\u2019SULLIVAN<\/p>\n

Took on fellow youngster Ty Gallop early but also moved onto Charlie Cameron at times, showing off his versatility. Played with great maturity and hardly lost a contest down back. 6<\/p>\n

16. SAM DE KONING<\/p>\n

Started deep alongside Sam Day then also spent time pinch-hitting in the ruck. Even drifted forward in the second term to kick just his third goal of the season. 6<\/p>\n

17. LAWSON HUMPHRIES<\/p>\n

Went to Kai Lohmann early. Did his job down back. 5<\/p>\n

18. TYSON STENGLE<\/p>\n

Had Brandon Starcevich for company. Showed great defensive pressure to force a Dayne Zorko turnover and set up Geelong\u2019s first goal through Jeremy Cameron. Outside of that reasonably well held. Just hasn\u2019t got himself back in goalkicking form. 5<\/p>\n

19. JACK MARTIN<\/p>\n

Started on the bench before pushing forward where Darcy Wilmot picked him up initially. His three first-term disposals all led to scores then got on the end of a nice goal in the third term. One of Geelong\u2019s better pressure players for the night, too. 5<\/p>\n

28. OLLIE DEMPSEY<\/p>\n

Born for finals. Finished with three goals from 25 touches and nine score involvements. Started with a bang on the wing next to Levi Ashcroft. Pushed hard forward early to kick Geelong\u2019s second goal in one of seven first-quarter disposals, before adding another major in the second quarter. Garry Lyon: \u201cHe\u2019s a problem here. He\u2019s getting all sorts of space out on the wing \u2026 he\u2019s been a real issue for Brisbane.\u201d Lyon was then equally as gushing after Dempsey\u2019s brilliant soccer goal in the third quarter: \u201cThat sums up what Ollie Dempsey has become as a footballer.\u201d 9<\/p>\n

30. TOM ATKINS<\/p>\n

A typically tough Tom Atkins performance. Took Hugh McCluggage for the first five minutes before Oisin Mullin took over the tag, allowing Atkins to play as a balance midfielder. Capped off his night with a lovely set-shot goal in the fourth term. 8<\/p>\n

32. GRYAN MIERS<\/p>\n

Quiet start, but was part of the class lifting in the third term with seven touches and three marks. Not his most influential performance, but did his role with 19 disposals and five tackles. 6<\/p>\n

33. SHANNON NEALE<\/p>\n

Lions co-captain Harris Andrews went to him and, bluntly, owned him. Didn\u2019t touch the footy in the first term while Andrews was at his intercepting best working off his opponent. Fox Footy\u2019s Garry Lyon said of Neale: \u201cHe\u2019s at a loss at the moment.\u201d But had a great moment in the fourth quarter with brilliant running goal to spark a Cats party. 4<\/p>\n

34. OISIN MULLIN<\/p>\n

An \u201cold school tag\u201d, per Jonathan Brown, on Hugh McCluggage \u2014 and held the Lions star to his lowest disposal count of the season. A strong first term, holding McCluggage to one handball while remarkably kicking his first AFL goal in his 41st game. That set the tone for the rest of his game. Fox Footy\u2019s Jason Dunstall added: \u201cHis stocks have risen tonight. The job he\u2019s done on McCluggage and the way he\u2019s done it in a final like this, he\u2019s becoming a weapon for Chris Scott.\u201d 8<\/p>\n

35. PATRICK DANGERFIELD<\/p>\n

Started on the ball next to Josh Dunkley before pushing forward to be manned up by Darcy Gardiner. Some selfless team-first moments, especially in the first half. 6<\/p>\n

38. JACK HENRY<\/p>\n

Started on Logan Morris. Had a strong intercept presence early and was reliable with ball in hand all night. 7<\/p>\n

39. ZACH GUTHRIE<\/p>\n

Went to Charlie Cameron, who got free to kick the first goal of the game. Also had a brainfade in the second term, pushing Cam Rayner over that led to a Brisbane goal in the goalsquare. Cameron, though, was ineffective, while Guthrie was solid on counter-attack. 6<\/p>\n

42. MARK O\u2019CONNOR<\/p>\n

Followed Cam Rayner everywhere \u2014 whether it was on the ball or inside Brisbane\u2019s forward 50. Was having a brilliant game until late in the second quarter when he was pinged for a (soft) free kick, leading to two Rayner goals. Outside of that a solid performance. 5<\/p>\n

44. TOM STEWART<\/p>\n

An excellent performance. Went to Cal Ah Chee early with the intention to get loose as often as possible. Was stiff to be pinged for an off-ball free kick in the second term, which led to a Kai Lohmann goal. But had an enormous second quarter, racking up nine disposals, four intercepts, 236m and a rare long-range goal. Then again controlled proceedings down back to allow the Cats to surge at the other end of the field. Fox Footy\u2019s Jason Dunstall added: \u201cThis is the best game I\u2019ve seen him play this year. When he\u2019s in this sort of form, he takes Geelong to another level.\u201d 8<\/p>\n

45. BRAD CLOSE <\/p>\n

Lined up next to Dayne Zorko. Very solid game, with a g goal from, 18 disposals, eight score involvements, five inside 50s and five tackles. 7<\/p>\n

46. MARK BLICAVS<\/p>\n

Footy\u2019s best Swiss Army knife. Thrived early as the No. 1 ruck, with\ufeff seven touches, three score involvements and four clearances in the first term alone. Continued to stretch Darcy Fort around the ground with his workrate. Added a goal and had the most clearances of any Cats player. 8<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Dash Brothers roared to life in the third quarter to inspire a brilliant Geelong victory. Meanwhile, Geelong\u2019s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":120994,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[64,63,689,42255,85466,3423,20781,85468,85464,85473,3237,12923,40737,61817,3444,7666,85462,10145,13659,2105,40742,85465,27763,33693,54621,12149,12141,19052,12098,85471,85469,36862,85459,36882,19051,12137,647,677,83950,23998,85470,85467,19078,3242,19064,85461,1820,85460,85,85458,51303,85472,23078,85463,85457,71127,660,12142],"class_list":["post-120993","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-bailey-smith","tag-balance-midfielder","tag-ben-waterworth","tag-brandon-starcevich","tag-brilliant-game","tag-brilliant-running-goal","tag-brilliant-soccer-goal","tag-brisbane-lions","tag-chris-scott","tag-darcy-gardiner","tag-darcy-wilmot","tag-defensive-pressure","tag-final-minutes","tag-first-quarter-disposals","tag-garry-lyon","tag-geelong-cats","tag-getty-images-inc","tag-harris-andrews","tag-intercept-presence","tag-jack-martin","tag-james-wiltshire","tag-jarrod-berry","tag-jason-dunstall","tag-jeremy-cameron","tag-jonathan-brown","tag-josh-dunkley","tag-key-umpiring-decisions","tag-lions-co-captain","tag-logan-morris","tag-lovely-set-shot-goal","tag-lowest-disposal-count","tag-mark-blicavs","tag-max-holmes","tag-melbourne","tag-oceania","tag-player-ratings","tag-premiership-chances","tag-pressure-players","tag-real-issue","tag-ryan-lester","tag-sam-day","tag-sam-de-koning","tag-school-tag","tag-score-involvements","tag-selfless-team-first-moments","tag-sports","tag-star-pulls","tag-stewart","tag-swiss-army","tag-tom-atkins","tag-took-hugh-mccluggage","tag-touches-led","tag-ty-gallop","tag-victoria","tag-worst-players"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120993","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=120993"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120993\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/120994"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=120993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=120993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=120993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}