GEELONG genius Gary Ablett might have virtually won the game for his side, having earlier brought 24,000 fans to their feet with his heroics, but to the quietly-spoken midfielder he was just doing his role.

Ablett stole the show in Geelong’s 42-point win over the Sydney Swans at Skilled Stadium on Saturday.

While his 35 possessions were somewhat of a talking point, it was more his three final-quarter goals – interspersed in Geelong’s eight for the term – that put an exclamation mark on his breathtaking display.

Each time he touched the ball on Saturday afternoon, something good came of it for the Cats.

But it was the roar of the crowd and the lift his teammates got in that final quarter that proved the difference between the teams.

Still, it was as if Ablett didn’t see what all the fuss was about post-match when asked of his performance.

“I just try to play my role, I just try to get in there and kind of win the first possession and it just kind of fell my way there a few times in the last quarter,” Ablett said.

Asked if he had a sense of just how well he had been playing – of his 35 possessions – the No.29 again played a straight bat, deflecting praise toward his teammates.

“I didn’t actually know my stats until you told me … it just comes [down] a lot to the team winning the ball, it’s very important that your team gets in and kind of wins those first possessions,” he said.

“It definitely helps every individual play good footy. It was just a good team effort today.”

It was a team effort from Geelong but, perhaps sensing this well-drilled side would need something special, it was Ablett who provided the spark in the final 30 minutes after his side had led by just 10 points at the final break.

Swans youngster Kieren Jack, after one of footy’s biggest jobs a week earlier, sidled up to Ablett at the start of the match and didn’t leave his side until late in the game.

“I just watched a few videos during the week on him,” Ablett said of Jack.

“I saw he got [Eagle Daniel] Kerr last week, so I just wanted to watch a few videos [about] what’s his weaknesses and what’s his strengths.

“He’s going to be a good young player. You know, he’ll learn a lot from this year.”

When Jack was shifted from Ablett late in the final term, the damage had been done.

The Cats’ maestro had lifted his side from the brink of an upset loss. Ablett left the field shortly after, the Geelong faithful lauding their favourite son.

Although the man himself would barely have noticed, he was probably thinking about his side, and what role he could play next.