Cam Mooney: Geelong showed their class when the game was on the line

The most impressive part of Geelong’s win over Fremantle wasn’t the comeback. It was the way they steadied when the game was on the line and trusted the players who usually get it done.

Because early on it looked ugly.

Fremantle jumped the Cats and for a while it felt like Geelong were chasing the game all night. But the thing about experienced sides is they don’t panic. They stay in the fight long enough to give their good players a chance to take over.

And that’s exactly what happened.

Shannon Neale was enormous up forward. Five goals from a key forward is exactly what you want when the game is there to be won. Jeremy Cameron chipped in with three as well and suddenly Geelong had a focal point that Fremantle couldn’t quite contain.

Through the midfield, Bailey Smith kept doing what he’s done since he arrived. Thirty disposals and a goal, working with Max Holmes who had another big night with more than 30 touches. Once those guys started getting their hands on the ball, the Cats began to control the game.

That’s when Geelong are at their best. When the ball starts moving their way and their forwards get opportunities, they’re very hard to stop.

For me it was a better win for Geelong than it was a bad loss for Fremantle. I didn’t walk away from that game thinking the Dockers aren’t the side people expect them to be.

But it did show again how hard it is to finish off good teams on the road.

At Geelong we used to talk about moments like that all the time when I was playing. Frank Costa used to say it and it stuck with our group: if not now, when?

If you’re serious about becoming a top side, you have to take those moments when they come.

I remember in 2007 when we went to Adelaide. For years we were terrible away from home. Our record on the road was shocking and we just couldn’t break through.

Before that game the players had a meeting and the message was simple. If we’re serious, we win this one.

We ended up winning by three points. It wasn’t pretty, but it changed everything. From there we went on a massive run away from home and our whole belief as a group shifted.

Those wins can define a team.

That’s why this game mattered for Fremantle. When you get that far in front on the road against a good side, that’s your chance to announce yourself to the competition.

Instead, Geelong steadied and worked their way back.

Good teams do that. They stay in the fight, trust their system and rely on their leaders when the moment comes.

And on Saturday night, the Cats did exactly that.

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