YOU CAN’T count them out yet. 

Facing a fourth straight loss for the first time since 2006 – when Tom Hawkins was playing for Melbourne Grammar and Chris Scott was still playing for Brisbane – Geelong has reignited its season with a backs-to-the-wall 22-point win over the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night. 

With Patrick Dangerfield, Cam Guthrie, Mitch Duncan, Esava Ratugolea, Rhys Stanley and Max Holmes all watching on from the wrong side of the fence, the reigning premiers head to the bye 6-6 after levelling the ledger with a 15.7 (97) to 10.15 (75) victory at Marvel Stadium. 

BULLDOGS v CATS Full match coverage and stats

The margin was a straight kick or less at quarter-time, half-time and three quarter-time, before Geelong kicked the final six goals of the game to resuscitate its season.  

08:16

Highlights: Western Bulldogs v Geelong

The Bulldogs and Cats clash in round 12

After losses to Greater Western Sydney, Fremantle and Richmond, Geelong is back in the top-eight after holding the Western Bulldogs goalless in the fourth quarter. 

And it was four-time All-Australian defender Tom Stewart and Coleman Medallist Jeremy Cameron who inflicted the most damage under the roof. 

Stewart controlled the game behind the ball, finishing with 28 disposals, 10 marks and 699 metres gained, while Cameron was everywhere, accumulating 22 touches, seven marks and two goals to draw level with Charlie Curnow in the Coleman Medal race. 

00:33

Stewart's rare stunner lights up Marvel

Tom Stewart steps inside and finds the big sticks with a huge snap

Before it fizzled late, it fizzed for most of the first three quarters. 

Aaron Naughton outmuscled a masked Sam De Koning to pluck the first contested grab of the game at the top of the square and put the Dogs on the board inside a few minutes. Ed Richards nailed a goal on the run from outside 50 to make it two from two, making Geelong pay for early turnovers. 

But then Stewart intervened to steady the ship, thwarting attacks down back before Tom Hawkins kicked two goals in two minutes to make it five each at quarter-time. 

00:29

O'Donnell feels the love after special moment

James O'Donnell kicks his maiden AFL major and his teammates flood to him

Despite the absence of their three best midfielders, Geelong matched the Western Bulldogs in the midfield across the first half. Mark O’Connor spent plenty of time following Marcus Bontempelli around Marvel Stadium and Jeremy Cameron quickly looked more like Jeremy Cameron than in the past three weeks. 

Bevo confirms hot Dog's hamstring, Scott says stars returning

In a week where the opening game of the NRL’s State of Origin series was held at the Adelaide Oval, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan timed an entrance off the bench to perfection to nail Tanner Bruhn in a crunching hit that wouldn’t have looked out of place in a maroon jersey. And it summed up the intensity of the first half.

00:33

Electric Ed slams through long running ripper

Ed Richards applies a great defensive spoil and nails a brilliant major from distance

The Western Bulldogs kicked the first two goals of the third quarter and looked poised to put some distance between the two sides, but Gary Rohan kicked a goal on the run before Tanner Bruhn converted a set shot to put Geelong back in front. 

And that was that. 

Geelong's dominance of the Western Bulldogs continues. The Cats have now won 17 of 19 games since 2009, including the past five games.

00:39

Rohan fires up as the Cats storm back

Gary Rohan drills a slick running goal after terrific Geelong pressure

Irish barrels
Zach Tuohy launched one of the longest bombs of 2023 to date when he nailed a textbook torpedo early in the first quarter that nearly hit the roof and reached the centre circle after playing on from a kick in. It landed in Ed Richards' hands and found its way to Bailey Williams who launched a long range shot, but missed. Tuohy immediately went for another torpedo but shanked the second attempt, much to the disappointment of the crowd. He kicked a clever goal by the end of the quarter and then nearly threaded the needle from the boundary. So much for not growing up with a Sherrin. 

00:42

Tuohy just keeps on keeping on and finishes in style

Zach Tuohy forces the turnover and stays alive to set up his own superb snap

Hamstrung hound
Ed Richards is set for time on the sidelines after hobbling off the ground in the third quarter with a hamstring strain. The 23-year-old had put his name in the All-Australian conversation following a strong first half of the season, but now the Dogs have further issues at half-back, following the hamstring injury to Jason Johannisen last month. Could it result in mid-season rookie draft recruit Caleb Poulter playing sooner rather than later? 

Ed Richards and Tom Liberatore after the round 12 Western Bulldogs and Geelong clash at Marvel Stadium, June 3, 2023. Picture: AFL Photos

Young Cat falling on his feet
Mitch Knevitt's stocks are rising. The second-year Cat might not get the round 12 rising star nomination but he won’t be far off one if he maintains this form. Knevitt collected 17 touches, eight contested possessions and seven tackles, showing further growth in just game nine.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 00:33

    Super Walker impresses early in milestone game

    Perfect start for the Crows as Taylor Walker slots the opening goal in his 250th AFL game

    AFL
  • 00:29

    Maric's magic moment comes earlier than expected

    Fairytales do come true as Eagles' mid-season recruit Ryan Maric earns a special goal on debut

    AFL
  • 00:32

    Mighty Rankine produces stellar double feature

    The Crows are red hot as Izak Rankine joins the scoring list with two quick goals

    AFL
  • 00:33

    Walker wreaking havoc at Adelaide Oval with six already

    Taylor Walker is going crazy in his milestone game, notching his sixth major of the game in just the second-quarter

    AFL
  • 00:37

    Kelly steadies the Eagles with crucial gem

    Tim Kelly softens the Crows' dominant lead with this much-needed Eagles major

    AFL
  • 00:45

    Thilthorpe serves up dessert with easiest of finishes

    Riley Thilthorpe chases after a wild footy and adds to the party with another goal

    AFL
  • 00:33

    Marvelous Rachele finds the big sticks

    Crows fans jump to their feet as Josh Rachele puts this one through

    AFL
  • 00:33

    Williams snaps cracking consolation major

    The Eagles continue to fight as Bailey Williams steals the footy and kicks this goal

    AFL
  • 03:14

    Walker massacre with career-high 10 in game 250

    Taylor Walker has a milestone game to remember with a spectacular 10-goal haul in the Crows' demolition

    AFL
  • 08:35

    Highlights: Adelaide v West Coast

    The Crows and Eagles clash in round 13

    AFL

  • Full post-match, R13: Eagles

    Watch West Coast's press conference after round 13's match against Adelaide

    AFL
  • 11:22

    Full post-match, R13: Crows

    Watch Adelaide's press conference after round 13's match against West Coast

    AFL
  • 13:22

    Mini-Match: Adelaide v West Coast

    Extended highlights of the Crows and Eagles clash in round 13

    AFL

WESTERN BULLDOGS    5.4    8.7    10.12    10.15 (75)
GEELONG                       5.2    8.5    12.6      15.7 (97)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Weightman, Ugle-Hagan, Treloar, Smith, Richards, O'Donnell, Naughton, Macrae, Lobb, Daniel
Geelong: Hawkins 2, Cameron 2, Rohan 2, Tuohy, Stewart, Stengle, Miers, Knevitt, Close, Bruhn, Blicavs, O.Henry

BEST
Western Bulldogs: English, Daniel, Liberatore, Dale, Treloar, Macrae
Geelong: Stewart, Cameron, Miers, Blicavs, Tuohy, Atkins, Knevitt

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Richards (hamstring),
Geelong: Rohan (nose)

SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Lachlan McNeil (replaced Ed Richards in the third quarter)
Geelong: Sam Simpson (replaced Jon Ceglar in the fourth quarter)

Crowd: 41,944 at Marvel Stadium