Gryan Miers’ Tackle Stops a Fremantle Fastbreak
With two minutes on the clock and the Cats holding a slender five point lead, Fremantle threatened to attack the corridor when the ball landed in the hands of Andrew Brayshaw.
With Sam Switkowski running alongside Brayshaw, a quick handball could have sent the Dockers into space in the middle of the ground.
Gryan Miers was not prepared to let that happen, pinning both of Brayshaw’s arms and crucially forcing a stoppage in the centre of the ground to halt Fremantle’s momentum.
Miers has been in sensational tackling form this season, already laying a career high 83 tackles in 2024 but stopping Brayshaw yesterday might have been the most important one yet.
The ensuing stoppage led to Shaun Mannagh’s big moment, when he charged inside 50 and sealed the game with a brilliant goal.
Holmes Stifles Switkowski to set up Dangerfield
Early in the final term with Geelong trailing by three points, the Cats were looking to gain some early momentum while putting scoreboard pressure on Fremantle.
Three minutes into the quarter a fortuitous bounce landed with Matt Taberner on the wing, who flicked a quick handball out to Sam Switkowski.
The Fremantle small forward was corralled by Max Holmes and tried to evade his clutches, but Holmes was up to the challenge and laid a huge tackle to win the ball back for the Cats.
The Geelong star subsequently launched the ball inside 50, with Patrick Dangerfield marking Holmes’ kick and booting the first goal of the final quarter.
Blicavs Vision Sparks Cats Offensive Foray
Closing in on the final 10 minutes of the game, the ball was locked inside Fremantle’s forward 50 just moments after Caleb Serong snatched the lead back for the Dockers.
The Cats collected the footy and a pair of quick handballs ended with Mark Blicavs, who received the ball at centre half back.
Blicavs thumped a brilliant 15 metre handball out in the direction of Oisin Mullin, who had found plenty of space in the middle of the ground at a pivotal point in the game.
From there the Cats were able to work the ball forward, landing in the hands of Shannon Neale who kicked a goal to give Geelong the lead once more.
The attacking move was set up by the releasing handball from Blicavs, with his brilliant vision sparking the Cats into action at an important moment.
Captain Pat Stands Tall with Huge Mark and Goal
Dangerfield had a number of moments in the final quarter that could have featured on this list, but his contested mark and set shot finish early in the term was inspirational.
Following Holmes’ big contest on the wing, Dangerfield drifted across and clunked a huge pack mark in between a host of Dockers defenders.
From 40 meters out with plenty of pressure riding on the kick, the Cats champion was as cool as ever, calmly slotting the set shot to put his side back in front.
Dangerfield finished with a game high 11 clearances, an equal game high in score involvements and contested possessions, but this mark and goal might have been his most important moment of the day.
Mannagh’s Deft Tap and Classy Finish Seals the Deal
This list could not be complete without Shaun Mannagh’s big moment, as he slammed the door shut with a brilliant play to kick the game sealing goal.
With less than two minutes on the clock and five points separating the two sides, there was a stoppage in the middle of the ground after Gryan Miers important tackle.
Fremantle gained possession, but the Cats manic pressure forced them all the way back to the edge of the centre square before Mannagh intervened.
A deft knock on pushed the ball out in front of Brad Close, who turned and handed the ball back to Mannagh as he streamed towards goal.
With all the poise and class any player could hope for, Mannagh steadied and landed the final blow to ice the game, securing a vital win for the Cats.
