Geelong continued their impressive form on Saturday afternoon, securing their fourth straight victory with a dominant 67-point win over Essendon at GMHBA Stadium. This match marked a significant milestone for the club, as it was their 500th win at Kardinia Park in V/AFL history.

Early Dominance by the Cats

The Cats established their authority early in the match, scoring 10 unanswered goals to take control of the contest. Although Essendon made a push in the second half, reducing the margin, Geelong's strong start proved decisive in their pursuit of a top-six finish.

Ollie Dempsey and Ollie Henry were standout performers, each contributing four goals to the team's tally. Dempsey matched his career-high with this performance, while Henry climbed to second place on Geelong's goal-kicking leaderboard for 2026. In the midfield, Bailey Smith excelled, consistently finding the ball, while Oisin Mullin and Mark Blicavs added toughness around stoppages.

Defensive Resilience

Defensively, Tom Stewart was instrumental in thwarting Essendon's attacks, supported by a composed Lawson Humphries and a strong showing from Jhye Clark, who continued to impress with his form. The match began under rainy conditions, but it was Dempsey who broke the deadlock, scoring his 25th goal of the season. He capped off the first quarter with another goal, helping the Cats establish a 25-point lead.

Geelong's offensive prowess was evident as Dempsey and Henry combined to score seven of the team's first eight goals. Remarkably, Essendon's first goal came with less than two minutes remaining in the second term, leaving Geelong with a commanding 53-point lead at halftime.

With this victory, Geelong not only extended their winning streak but also reinforced their position as a formidable contender in the league.