Round 3 – Geelong v Adelaide: Jealous Of The Cats Success, But Gee! I Admire Them!

 

Round 3

Geelong v Adelaide

7.30pm, March 26, 2026

Kardinia Park

 

by Dan Lonergan

 

When I was growing up in the 70s and 1980s, Geelong was like the Western Bulldogs and to a lesser extent St Kilda now, a middle of the road side who occasionally made finals but didn’t win too many. Between 1976 and 1981, they played in four finals series and participated in 8 finals winning two. They actually finished on top in 1980 at the end of the home and away season, but lost both finals.

To be fair, in my humble opinion, it wasn’t a very talented side, so I reckon coach, Bill Goggin did well to get them so far in 1980 and 81 when they also made a Preliminary final. Both times they lost narrowly to Collingwood so they need to be admired for their efforts, but knowing lots of Geelong supporters back then, the so close but oh so far displays would drive them mad.

When Malcolm Blight took over in 1989, they made the finals four of his six years in charge and went deep reaching three Grand finals but didn’t win any of them as Cat fans became even more frustrated at not being able to break the 1963 flag drought.

However, those that know the game, the wheel has turned and the Cats this century especially since 2007, have kept winning and hardly missing the finals getting to seven Grand finals and 14 Preliminary finals and winning four flags. You can understand supporters of others clubs being jealous but their ability to win most games is impressive.

They were belted in the opening game this year by the undefeated Gold Coast and played as badly as they did in the last 40 minutes in the 2025 Grand Final. They looked as flat as a night carter’s hat and for those of us old enough to remember that hat, nothing could be flatter in that first match against the Suns.

Their first half against Fremantle in their second match which was round one, but of course does not make much sense as they played opening round was also poor. They had a big second half and over ran the Dockers and won at home before having a bye.

Their opponent on Friday night was Adelaide, who hadn’t beaten Geelong at the Cattery since 2003, before my son was born and he has just celebrated his 21 st birthday and when I still had some semblance of hair.

The Crows also were without key players, Ah Chee Long term Hammy, Dawson and the big Texan, (Walker) was being rested, even though it was an ultra conservative move in my view as we are two games in and despite his veteran status he is still so important with his ability to kick long goals at crucial moments. Rory Laird one of Adelaide’s most decorated players this century was also missing.

It was a good night not to go the footy and the crowd was down a bit for a Geelong home game, but it was a school night and the weather ordinary, which had resulted in most of the first day of the Sheffield Shield cricket final being washed out up the road at the Junction Oval (yes the cricket is still on and unfortunately being lost in the wash, with footy underway and as usual dominating many people’s thoughts and minds).

Geelong were warm favourites considering Adelaide had all that talent out and were the better side all night leading for all bar a couple of minutes in the last when Adelaide’s accuracy and efficiency when going inside 50 through limited opportunities saw them hit the front.

One of my most loved aspects of our great game to me is the role player. They have a job to do and generally do it and those players usually are the bottom six talent wise on your list and certainly in that category in regard to their profile. There have been so many examples of those sorts of footballers in premiership sides performing their part and then disappearing into the footballing abyss. Shane Ellen of Adelaide played in both flags and kicked five in the first one in 1997. His team mate, James Theissen starred on the wing in 1998. Carlton foursome, Ian Aitken, who was one of the best on ground, Michael Kennedy, Shane Robertson and Richard Dennis were excellent for the Blues in the heat to claim the 1987 flag and Shane Biggs, Fletcher Roberts and Joel Hamling did what they had to do effectively when the Bulldogs broke their drought in 2016.

The Crows on Thursday night has those types of players relatively unknown in Zac Taylor, who kicked three to help give Adelaide the lead, Cook, who gave them excellent drive off half back all night, Nankervis and the big ruck, McAndrew, who set up a goal with a close to an illegal handpass you will ever find. They had the momentum and it looked like they were on the way to a gritty win, but the Cats had peppered the inside forward 50s but not effectively.

There was a moment that changed the game, which has been spoken about ad nauseam since the match and it involved the new last touch rule. The Crows claimed Atkins touched it last, but the umpire awarded Atkins the free and this eventually resulted in yet another reborn player, due to lining up at Geelong, Jack Martin kicking his third goal to restore the cats the advantage. They then dominated territory for the rest of the game as the Crows battled manfully as they had all night.

It also didn’t bode well for Adelaide that key defender, Jordan Butts who did so well against Bulldog Star, Sam Darcy the previous week had been forced off the field injured, only to return but didn’t really look himself.

Ollie Dempsey fast becoming the best goal kicking winger in the comp with his ability to constantly run forward and yet most opposition teams still have not found a way to stop him especially late in games, sealed the result with a late goal.

Sam De Koning did a great job on Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty who to me is better suited as a player in the 1990s and 80s and a classic kick and mark forward. His defensive pressure at times non existent. Bailey Smith and Max Holmes again starred and great to see last season’s difficulties not affect Tanner Bruhn much, who has been great in his three games so far.

Patrick Dangerfield again missed with an old man injury for Geelong, but as is often the case they found a way and have two victories from their first three with the blockbuster, Easter Monday clash to come against Hawthorn.

For the Crows, just one win so far, but two narrow losses so they aren’t far away. However, I remain a firm believer they over achieved last year in finishing the home and away season on top as their horrible display in the finals indicated. I reckon even though it’s early days there is a touch of this Adelaide Crows team with the 2012 version who won 17 home and away games but had an easy draw playing new teams, the Giants and Gold Coast twice, Melbourne who could not beat time in those days twice and the Bulldogs, who only won five games also on two occasions. The next year after making the 2012 Preliminary Final, Adelaide struggled. They have the next three at home including gather round so can be 4-2, but I will remain unconvinced about their bona fides.

As for the Cats, you just have to respect them. They are always there!

 

GEELONG     4.4     6.5     7.9     9.14     (68)
ADELAIDE     2.2     5.3     7.5     9.6     (60) 

GOALS
Geelong: Martin 3, Dempsey 2, Stewart, O.Henry, Mannagh, Holmes
Adelaide: Taylor 3, Thilthorpe, Rachele, Cumming, Rankine, Neal-Bullen, Murray

BEST
Geelong: Holmes, Dempsey, Martin, Smith, De Koning, Blicavs
Adelaide: Rachele, Rankine, Butts, Worrell, Thilthorpe, Berry

INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Adelaide: Nil

Crowd: 20403 at GMHBA Stadium

 

Read more from Dan Lonergan HERE

 

To return to the www.footyalmanac.com.au  home page click HERE

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.

Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE