Match

Geelong Cats vs Essendon

Commentary / 08 Aug 2025

Pre Game

00:00
Zach Merrett had 18 disposals, 283 metres gained, and two score involvements when he last played at GMHBA Stadium in Round 18, 2023.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
02:38
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Bailey Smith)
03:56
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Mason Redman)
08:03
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Shannon Neale)
09:53
Geelong is applying more pressure than Essendon and has a pressure rating of 182 to 169 in the earlier stages of the first quarter.
11:10
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Tyson Stengle)
11:46
The first possession battle has been close, with Geelong in front of 5-2, and clearances are in its favour, 5-2. The Cats have scored 1.0 (6) at stoppages, whilst the Bombers are yet to score.
12:19
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Shannon Neale)
13:01
Geelong's kicking efficiency is at 64% in the match so far, compared to Essendon's 52. They are also more effective inside the forward half, with an efficiency of 70% compared to 44% in this measure.
14:41
Geelong has had a good spread of scores from all zones this evening - scoring from every zone apart from the forward 50. They have a 100% record of going inside 50 from the attacking midfield so far in the match as well
15:44
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Oliver Dempsey)
18:00
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Jack Bowes)
20:18
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Isaac Kako)
20:25
Essendon's defensive 50 ball movement has been strong this evening, with 29% of its chains from this area resulting in an inside 50 compared to Geelong's 22%.
23:21
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Tyson Stengle)
24:27
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Liam McMahon)
26:37
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Tyson Stengle)
29:38
Geelong has had a good spread of scores from all zones this evening, scoring from every zone. Their most productive zone is attacking midfield 2.3 (15).

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
03:11
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Liam McMahon)
05:28
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Jeremy Cameron)
09:58
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Jeremy Cameron)
10:21
Tom Atkins has applied a game-high 11 pressure acts so far in this match, with seven of these coming in the forward half of the ground. He has a tackle efficiency of only 33% (two tackles from six attempts).
11:52
It has been an intriguing contest in the ruck this evening between Todd Goldstein and Rhys Stanley, with the first possession count in the Bombers' favour 6-5, when they have been rucking opponents. Geelong has had two more clearances from their 13 ruck contests.
12:47
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Mitch Knevitt)
15:43
Bombers Interchange - Luamon Lual off due to an injury.
16:06
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Jeremy Cameron)
16:23
The Cats have had the upper hand in the forward half game this evening, winning 11 forward half intercepts to the Bombers' 8; Geelong have scored 2.3 (15) from that source compared to 1.1 (7).
17:33
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Liam McMahon)
18:47
Jaxon Prior is having a damaging attacking game for the Essendon Bombers. He has had nine disposals at 78% efficiency, seven uncontested possessions, and 283 metres gained.
20:04
The most productive zone between both sides this evening has been the attacking midfield, where they have scored 3.6 (24).
20:52
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Brad Close)
22:29
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Jeremy Cameron)
23:37
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Brad Close)
27:54
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Oliver Dempsey)
28:10
Bailey Smith has had a strong start to the match, with a game-high 18 disposals, 13 uncontested possessions, four clearances, seven handball receives and 474 metres gained.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
03:20
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Mark Blicavs)
06:16
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Liam McMahon)
06:58
Jeremy Cameron has been the forward 50 target on six occasions in the match so far, taking a mark inside 50 on three occasions he has been kicked to. He has impacted the scoreboard with 2.2 (14).
08:03
The Cats' attack from the forward half has been on full display this evening - having scored 4.7 (31) from that source compared to 1.3 (9).
08:16
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Zach Merrett)
08:56
Geelong has been strong in the territory battle in the third quarter, winning the inside 50 count 6-2. They have had 16 disposals inside the forward half compared to the Bombers' 14.
09:30
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Gryan Miers)
11:12
Geelong is applying more forward 50 pressure than Essendon and has a pressure rating of 174 to 144 in that zone.
12:21
Geelong's most effective scoring zone has been the attacking midfield, recording 4.5 (29). Essendon has scored the most from this zone as well, 2.0 (12).
12:40
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Brad Close)
13:39
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Shaun Mannagh)
16:10
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Peter Wright)
16:47
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Gryan Miers)
18:25
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Zach Merrett)
21:59
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
23:19
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Liam McMahon)
27:07
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jade Gresham)
29:45
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Gryan Miers)
31:56
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Shaun Mannagh)
33:19
Liam McMahon had some third quarter to help Essendon win the quarter 5.2 (32) to 4.3 (27). He had five disposals, three score involvements and two goals.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
04:31
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Andrew McGrath)
04:39
Since halftime, Essendon have kicked 6.2 (38) to 4.3 (27) including five of the last seven goals.
06:23
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
07:34
Lachlan Blakiston has played 96% of the match so far — the highest of any player on the ground.
08:04
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Xavier Duursma)
08:19
The first possession battle is slightly in Geelong's favour, leading this statistic 29-26; clearances are in their favour 27-21. However, the Bombers have scored 3.2 (20) at stoppages, whilst Geelong has scored 1.5 (11).
09:23
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Shaun Mannagh)
11:47
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Mark Blicavs)
12:19
Mark Blicavs kicks his second for the evening, to take his career tally to 77 from 290 matches. He equal career-high in a season is 12 in both 2017 and 2022.
14:25
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Peter Wright)
15:24
Since halftime, Essendon are having an impact at the contest around the stoppages. Clearances are even at 14-14, while they lead contested possessions (47-40). They have also scored 4.1 (25) compared to Geelong's 1.2 (8) from this source during this period of time.
17:42
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Brad Close)
20:47
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Jeremy Cameron)
22:34
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Jeremy Cameron)
24:41
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Jeremy Cameron)
27:10
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Tom Atkins)
28:40
Bombers Interchange - Archer May and is possibly out for the game.
29:47
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Jeremy Cameron)
32:07
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Jeremy Cameron)
34:06
Archie Roberts was gallant in defeat tonight with 33 disposals at 67 efficiency. He also had 26 uncontested possessions, 18 handball receives, four rebound 50's and 413 metres gained.