Cameron kicks six to propel Cats to win

Marcus Bontempelli was on-point during the Bulldogs’ recovery.Credit:Getty Images

After just six minutes the Cats were three goals up. Brandan Parfitt, Tom Atkins, Cam Guthrie and Joel Selwood were body-lining the ball and the forwards made the most of their chances.

However, the game changed when Stewart was concussed. He clashed with Bailey Smith when he ran in open-chested to intercept him and copped an accidental knock to the jaw. Not only were the Bulldogs winning the ball around the contest, but they were able to trap the ball in their attacking half.

They also improved their horrendous ball use to spread the ground and trouble the Cats with their speed.

Jack Macrae and Marcus Bontempelli were outstanding for the Bulldogs, with Macrae piercing the Cats’ defence and Bontempelli penetrating, which forced the Cats deeper and locked them there without any rebound.

With Stewart off, the Cats lost their rhythm and the Bulldogs began to dance around them. Tom Liberatore kicked the important first goal of the second half and Cody Weightman – who Stewart took at the start of the match – began to have an influence.

The Bulldogs began dominating territory with their ball winners enjoying the absence of Atkins around the ball as he was forced in defence. Under pressure Geelong’s ball use deteriorated, missing forward targets and allowing the opposition to smother what should have been deep entries.

Atkins, however, returned to the middle and the Cats’ pressure was enough to give them an important four points.

Smith reported

After the three-quarter-time siren a melee erupted when the Bulldogs were unlucky to not receive a downfield free kick that would have given them a kick at goal. Smith and Zach Tuohy held each other’s jumper as they stared at each other with tough looks on their faces before Smith became impatient and threw his head at Tuohy, with the Geelong defender staggering back holding his head like a modelling career was at risk. Smith was reported will be lucky to escape suspension.

Zach Tuohy pictured after his clash with Bailey Smith. Credit:Getty Images

Goals

Geelong: Cameron 5, Hawkins 2, Atkins, Close, Rohan, Duncan.Western Bulldogs: Liberatore 2, Weightman 2, Bontempelli, Khamis, McNeil, Dale, Naughton, English.

BestGeelong: Cameron, Atkins, Parfitt, Duncan, Z Guthrie, Stanley, De Koning.Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Liberatore, Bontempelli, Smith, Keath.