Geelong's Veterans and Rising Stars Outclass Crows in a Thrilling Comeback
What a game that was! If you caught the Adelaide Crows versus Geelong Cats clash in the 2025 Gather Round, you witnessed one of the best spectacles of the season so far. From the first bounce to the final siren, this one had everything – goals galore, wild momentum swings, and a textbook example of how to handle pressure from a team that simply knows how to win.
The Crows came out firing. In the first half, it looked like they were on track to put Geelong away early. Darcy Fogarty was electric with four goals in the second quarter alone, and alongside Ben Keays and the ageless Taylor Walker, Adelaide had nine goals between the three by halftime. At one point, they were up by 30 points and playing like it was a footy version of a T20 cricket match – fast, high-scoring, almost unstoppable.
But here's where the Cats showed why they’re still a force. Even without key defenders like Tom Stewart and Jack Henry, Geelong didn’t panic. Coach Chris Scott shuffled the magnets, moved Mark Blicavs into defence, and brought young Connor O’Sullivan into the spotlight. What followed was classic Geelong footy – composed, relentless, and ruthlessly efficient.
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Patrick Dangerfield was simply vintage. Against his former side, he booted four goals – two of them coming in the last quarter when it mattered most. Jeremy Cameron was just as clutch, slotting three of his four goals in the final term to turn the tide. And let’s not forget Bailey Smith – Geelong’s star recruit who racked up a game-high 35 touches, nine score involvements, and 643 metres gained. His ability to link up, break lines, and hit the scoreboard made a massive difference.
Max Holmes was another standout. His running game was unreal, collecting 32 disposals, 805 metres gained, and laying seven tackles. Talk about impact. Together with Tom Atkins and Ollie Dempsey, the Cats' midfield worked overtime to claw their way back into it.
The turning point came late in the third and early in the fourth quarter. After trailing by eight points at three-quarter time, the Cats surged. Holmes, Close, and Dempsey all hit the scoreboard. Suddenly, the Cats were in front, and from there, they just clicked into that champion mode. You could feel Adelaide faltering – their decision-making started to unravel, their legs got heavy, and their fast-flowing attack dried up under Geelong’s intense pressure.
This wasn’t just a win – it was a statement. Geelong, with their perfect mix of youth, experience, and footy smarts, showed the Crows what it takes to truly contend. You can play attacking, flashy football all day, but without the grit, the game sense, and that composure in big moments? You're not quite there yet.
Adelaide will take lessons from this, no doubt. But Geelong? They just keep proving why they're always in the hunt – whether it’s 2017, 2022, or 2025, they manage the big moments better than almost anyone.
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