Jeremy Cameron lets slip looming club fine for laying zero tackles in Geelong's huge win over Essendon
Geelong superstar Jeremy Cameron has admitted he will have to pay a club fine despite kicking six goals in the Cats' 95-point demolition job of Essendon.
Cameron was at his irresistible best and the Cats were ruthless in putting the young Bombers to the sword at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
A hallmark of Geelong's surge up to second place on the ladder this year has been the relentless forward pressure and that was on full display against Essendon.
Forwards Gryan Miers (five), Shaun Mannagh (five), Brad Close (three), Tyson Stengle (two), Patrick Dangerfield (two) and Shannon Neale (two) all made their presence felt in the tackle count.
But there was one big name missing from the list of tacklers with Cameron failing to record one. It ended an eight-game streak of recording at least one tackle and will result in a penalty.
'It was a big focus, it's always a big focus for everyone in the forward line,' Cameron told Fox Footy after the game.
'The boys were pretty quick to remind me that I didn't have a tackle tonight so I've got to cough up during the week.
'It's a fine, I'm not sure how big yet but it's all in good fun... we want to pride ourselves on doing all the little things all the time. It's important.
'That's something we want to focus on, we want to keep it in there, every team does but that's always been a big focus for us.
'Tyson (Stengle) and Brad Close, we saw them make some awesome tackles so it's great to see.'
For the record, Tom Stewart and Sam De Koning, who was subbed out with injury, were the only other two Cats not to lay a tackle.
Cameron six-goal haul in the 23.13 (151) to 8.8 (56) win took him to 44 for the season and pull clear of GWS spearhead Jesse Hogan (38) in the Coleman Medal race.
Brownlow Medal contender Bailey Smith showed no signs of the hamstring tightness that sidelined him against West Coast.
The gun recruit racked up 24 disposals in the first half and finished with 41 plus 760 metres gained as he and Max Holmes (873 metres gained, 36 disposals) continued their dynamic midfield partnership.
Neale (four goals) and Mannagh (three) chipped in, and skipper Dangerfield (two goals, 10 score involvements) was a constant threat as Geelong monstered Essendon's undermanned and undersized defence.
The win came at a cost for Chris Scott's Cats, with key defender De Koning substituted in the third quarter after injuring his left shoulder early in the game.
Brad Scott's Bombers are still three to four weeks away from regaining the likes of injured Jordan Ridley, Zach Reid, Kyle Langford and Mason Redman.
Ben McKay (foot) also remains sidelined, while Sam Draper is among four players done for the season.
The gulf in class was evident and Geelong will feel exceptionally confident heading into Friday's blockbuster against reigning premiers Brisbane at GMHBA Stadium.
Essendon ruck Todd Goldstein (30 hitouts, 20 disposals) battled hard, while Will Setterfield (31 disposals) and Jye Caldwell (28 disposals) were busy and skipper Zach Merrett (29 disposals) was typically prolific.
Cameron, Neale and Mannagh kicked two goals apiece in the first term to Essendon's two as the Cats punished the Bombers' turnovers.
Essendon have kicked two goals or fewer in the first quarter of their past five games.
The Cats led by 35 points at halftime, and despite Essendon spearhead Peter Wright booting the first goal of the second half, Geelong were unfazed and kicked five of the next six majors to tighten their grip on the contest.
The final quarter proved a formality as the Cats drilled home seven goals while keeping Essendon goalless.
The Bombers, now on a three-game losing streak, face Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Thursday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
29 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Scott Selwood continues brother Adam's legacy with solo marathon as Isaac Smith takes on South Africa run
Scott Selwood has put his mind and body to the test to continue late brother Adam's legacy, completing a punishing solo marathon for charity. The 35-year-old Collingwood assistant coach was due to run in South Africa's Big Five Marathon before pulling out of the trip in the wake of Adam's death last month. Hawthorn and Geelong premiership hero Isaac Smith took his place — but Scott still committed to the cause for Carrie Bickmore's Beanies 4 Brain Cancer. Scott ran 42.2km around Albert Park in Melbourne while Smith prepared to hit the trails in South Africa. 'You would have been forgiven if you weren't up for it today brother,' Joel Selwood wrote. 'But instead you did it the hardest way possible — underprepared, freezing cold and ran alone against the clock. '42.2km and smashed it. Proud of you Uncle Scooter.' In spite of the circumstances, Scott finished the solo effort in an impressive three hours and two minutes — an average of 4:19/km. Scott and Smith have together raised over $55,000. 'Not Africa but the importance to the cause stays the same!' Scott wrote. 'I learnt some very hard lessons about being underprepared for a marathon also! So did my toenails! 'To everyone who has donated.. a very big THANK YOU. This is an incredible cause and with incredible people. It wasn't mean to be for me in Africa but that's when you're lucky to have great people to step in and support (like) Isaac Smith. Good luck team!' Bickmore said Scott had chosen the South Africa marathon to help him grieve his twin brothers Adam and Troy, who took his own life in March. 'It has been the most gut-wrenching time for the Selwood family, a much-loved football family who have tragically lost two brothers in very short succession,' she said last month. 'It is the most shocking situation for their family ... in the midst of all of this, Scott decided he wanted to come on the Big Five adventure with us. 'At the time, it was something to give him purpose, to give him a reason to keep running every day, as he and his family were navigating their grief. 'And he was doing such an incredible job.' Loading Instagram Post Smith, who played with Joel at Geelong, took on the task of replacing Scott in South Africa despite having a newborn at home. 'There wasn't really a question because they've done so many amazing things for so many people,' he said. 'They're a beautiful family and I'll do anything to help them out.' Before he died, Adam was set to honour Troy by running a half-marathon for a mental health charity. Like Smith with Scott, some of Adam's former West Coast teammates and other friends stepped up to finish what was started. Scott said he was inspired by Adam, and Bickmore and her late husband Greg, to take on his own marathon challenge. 'I vividly remember her looking into the camera and summoning the courage to speak about her deepest pain of the illness and the loss of her husband,' he wrote. 'It was a type of courage that goes beyond what you see on a football field, this was real, raw courage. As I watched, I felt goosebumps on my arms. 'Recently, I experienced the loss of a brother, though to a different illness, and the pain was incredibly real and deep. 'My brother was always there to help others, and continuing his legacy, even for a different cause, feels incredibly important. 'Although I still feel the deep pain of losing him, channelling my energy into a cause like the one Carrie has created feels like a meaningful way to make a difference.'
Sydney Morning Herald
5 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Good enough: Simon Goodwin's done enough repairs to coach Demons next year
In saying that, the Demons should not be rushing to re-contract the coach beyond 2026. They can let the contract run, and re-assess Goodwin in his 10th season (2026), changing the list and potentially some of his support staff. Most premiership coaches end up with 10 years or thereabouts. That Goodwin is contracted for next year makes this call an easier one for the Melbourne board, who is not about to turf out the club's only premiership coach since the introduction of decimal currency. The Melbourne hierarchy, headed by Brad Green until the presidency is passed to another ex-player in Steven Smith this year, has contended that Goodwin has not been afforded sufficient respect for the achievement of breaking that 57-year drought and coaching them to top-four (home and away) finishes in 2022 and 2023. If, as critics asserted, Goodwin had a great collection of players at his disposal from 2021, he was also lumbered with a less-than-great football club. Those cultural deficits – seen outside the Entrecote restaurant in 2022, the Joel Smith drug suspension, and in discord between individual players since – more than offset the talents of a playing list that also had major holes in its forward line and fewer repeat-speed runners than Geelong or Collingwood. In assessing Goodwin's performance, it is only fair to factor in those headwinds he encountered – within both team and club – and to consider the enormous resilience he's shown in handling overlapping problems. On Goodwin's watch, the Demons won a flag in a year when they were sequestered in a pristine bubble in Perth. Did that unnatural environment focus minds? Maybe. But as one who was in Perth and watched the finals at close quarters, I would say their 2021 premiership was as bona fide as any. From a practical vantage, Melbourne would find it difficult to replace their senior coach this year, even if they were leaning that direction (which they aren't), for various reasons. One is that their incoming chief executive, Paul Guerra, doesn't begin his job until September. The far more important consideration is the level of improvement – and trajectory – since that terrible 0-5 start. The recovery began with an upset of Fremantle and was crystallised by the more impressive scalp of Brisbane at the Gabba. The Demons were unlucky to fall short on King's Birthday against Collingwood, too – a defeat that, barring something extraordinary, snuffed out their faint finals prospects. Loading The Demons erred in not letting Oliver have his wish to be traded to Geelong, given the terms of any future trade will not be as favourable. This was an all-club call. To greenlight the prospective trade – as the Demons shrewdly did with Jesse Hogan in 2018 – is an opportunity missed. Kysaiah Pickett has been instrumental in the turnaround, Goodwin having deployed him further upfield in spurts and given the gifted forward more license to create for others. Whether they needed to sign the sublime Kozzy to another mega-contract similar to those handed to Petracca and Oliver is debatable; we'll know sometime in the 2030s. Critically, the Demons have re-discovered a capacity to turn those forays forward into scores, a pattern that began with the Fremantle game, in which Pickett booted five goals, and continued against the Lions and Swans, with only regressions against the Hawks and St Kilda. The Demons are in the process of healing themselves culturally while undertaking a version of rebuilding on the run (hitherto appearing to be in no man's land), as Harvey Langford, Xavier Lindsay and Caleb Windsor are blended into an experienced group. Goodwin deserves more time to oversee the blending, and to see out his contract, at the least.
The Age
5 hours ago
- The Age
Good enough: Simon Goodwin's done enough repairs to coach Demons next year
In saying that, the Demons should not be rushing to re-contract the coach beyond 2026. They can let the contract run, and re-assess Goodwin in his 10th season (2026), changing the list and potentially some of his support staff. Most premiership coaches end up with 10 years or thereabouts. That Goodwin is contracted for next year makes this call an easier one for the Melbourne board, who is not about to turf out the club's only premiership coach since the introduction of decimal currency. The Melbourne hierarchy, headed by Brad Green until the presidency is passed to another ex-player in Steven Smith this year, has contended that Goodwin has not been afforded sufficient respect for the achievement of breaking that 57-year drought and coaching them to top-four (home and away) finishes in 2022 and 2023. If, as critics asserted, Goodwin had a great collection of players at his disposal from 2021, he was also lumbered with a less-than-great football club. Those cultural deficits – seen outside the Entrecote restaurant in 2022, the Joel Smith drug suspension, and in discord between individual players since – more than offset the talents of a playing list that also had major holes in its forward line and fewer repeat-speed runners than Geelong or Collingwood. In assessing Goodwin's performance, it is only fair to factor in those headwinds he encountered – within both team and club – and to consider the enormous resilience he's shown in handling overlapping problems. On Goodwin's watch, the Demons won a flag in a year when they were sequestered in a pristine bubble in Perth. Did that unnatural environment focus minds? Maybe. But as one who was in Perth and watched the finals at close quarters, I would say their 2021 premiership was as bona fide as any. From a practical vantage, Melbourne would find it difficult to replace their senior coach this year, even if they were leaning that direction (which they aren't), for various reasons. One is that their incoming chief executive, Paul Guerra, doesn't begin his job until September. The far more important consideration is the level of improvement – and trajectory – since that terrible 0-5 start. The recovery began with an upset of Fremantle and was crystallised by the more impressive scalp of Brisbane at the Gabba. The Demons were unlucky to fall short on King's Birthday against Collingwood, too – a defeat that, barring something extraordinary, snuffed out their faint finals prospects. Loading The Demons erred in not letting Oliver have his wish to be traded to Geelong, given the terms of any future trade will not be as favourable. This was an all-club call. To greenlight the prospective trade – as the Demons shrewdly did with Jesse Hogan in 2018 – is an opportunity missed. Kysaiah Pickett has been instrumental in the turnaround, Goodwin having deployed him further upfield in spurts and given the gifted forward more license to create for others. Whether they needed to sign the sublime Kozzy to another mega-contract similar to those handed to Petracca and Oliver is debatable; we'll know sometime in the 2030s. Critically, the Demons have re-discovered a capacity to turn those forays forward into scores, a pattern that began with the Fremantle game, in which Pickett booted five goals, and continued against the Lions and Swans, with only regressions against the Hawks and St Kilda. The Demons are in the process of healing themselves culturally while undertaking a version of rebuilding on the run (hitherto appearing to be in no man's land), as Harvey Langford, Xavier Lindsay and Caleb Windsor are blended into an experienced group. Goodwin deserves more time to oversee the blending, and to see out his contract, at the least.
