Cam Mooney: Easter Monday proves the rivalry is back

The biggest takeaway out of Easter Monday is simple. The rivalry is back, and that game showed exactly where Geelong sits right now.

That was as good a home and away game as you’ll see. Four rounds in and it’s already going to take something special to top it. The crowd, the noise, the pressure, the swings in momentum. That’s what big footy looks like. I’ve played in those games and you know when you’re in one early. This had that feel all day.

Geelong didn’t quite get it done, but I actually think the result told the truth. Hawthorn controlled more of the game and probably deserved the win. That’s not a knock on the Cats. That’s just where both sides are at right now.

What it did show is that Geelong are still building.

You look at their forward half and the connection just isn’t quite there yet. The midfield is getting enough of it, they’re getting their chances, but the polish inside 50 isn’t at the level we’re used to. That’s where games like this get decided.

Jeremy Cameron is the obvious one everyone looks at. He’s not quite there yet, but I wouldn’t be panicking. Far from it. He’s coming off an interrupted pre-season and a broken arm. You could see it. He’s moving well, he’s getting up the ground, he’s finding the ball, but that sharpness and confidence in front of goal just isn’t fully back.

That’s normal.

What I liked was that he still worked. He didn’t go missing. He pushed up the ground, got involved and tried to impact the game in different ways. That’s what the good players do when they’re not at their best.

The same goes for a few others. Gryan Miers had moments but turned a few over. The small forwards as a group weren’t as clean as they usually are. Stengle has been a big out. These are the things that get fixed with time, not panic.

I’ve been in teams like this. When you come off a long season or a grand final run, you don’t always hit the ground flying. You build. You find your rhythm. You get continuity back into the side.

That’s where Geelong is at.

The positive is they’re still competing in big games while not playing their best footy. That tells you the base is strong.

Now they head into Gather Round, and this is where things can shift quickly.

They get West Coast, which on paper is a game they should win. But more importantly, it’s a chance to build. Get some confidence. Get some fluency back in that forward half. If Jeremy Cameron kicks a bag, no one will be surprised. That’s how quickly it can turn for a player like him.

And Gather Round itself, I love it.

It just works in Adelaide. Everything is close, the city gets around it, and footy becomes the centre of everything for a few days. You don’t get that in the bigger cities. It feels like a festival without trying too hard.

From a player point of view, you’d love it. From a supporter point of view, it’s even better. You can go from game to game, you’re not travelling hours, and the whole place is talking footy.

That’s why it should stay there.

For Geelong, this week isn’t about making a statement. It’s about getting their game in order. Keep building fitness, get the connection right, and let their best players find form.

Because if they do that, they’re still right in this.

And if we get another Easter Monday like that later in the year, you’ll take your chances with this side every time.

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