The GIANTS were unable to tame the Cats in the VFL on Saturday as the deadly accurate visitors registered a 50-point win at ENGIE Stadium.

Played prior to the AFL clash between the sides, the GIANTS gave up an eight-goal second quarter to find themselves down by 41 at the half and despite a much-improved third term could not claw the Cats back as Geelong ran out comfortable 18.7 (115) to 9.11 (65) winners.

Leading the way for the GIANTS despite the loss were some familiar faces, with Max Gruzewski (14 disposals, seven marks, four goals), Jacob Wehr (27 touches, five inside 50s, four tackles), Josh Fahey (30 touches, eight marks, six tackles), and Nick Madden (16 touches, 33 hit outs, five tackles, five clearances) all prominent, while star midfielder Stephen Coniglio (17 touches) took another step forward in managed minutes in his second game back after a 13-week layoff with a glute injury.

Gruzewski in particular continued his stellar form at VFL level to provide a constant threat in attack for the GIANTS as he took his goal tally for the season to 37 to remain fourth on the VFL leaderboard.

Saturday’s efforts was the sixth time this season that Gruzewski has kicked at least four goals in a game.

Meanwhile VFL-listed defender Harper Montgomery (23 disposals, 13 marks, 12 intercept possessions) was another who can hold his head high following Saturday’s performance after starring with his best game for the club.

Particularly damaging in the first half, the young defender collected 12 disposals, eight marks, and a game-high eight intercept possessions in the first half alone as he cut off numerous attacking forays from the Cats.

Unfortunately for the GIANTS they lacked polish around goal from the get-go in Saturday’s clash while the visitors were as sharp as they come to give themselves an early lead despite the GIANTS leading the inside 50 count and most other key metrics outside of the scoreboard in the opening term.

Their inefficiency going forward saw the GIANTS go goalless for the opening 26 minutes while the Cats piled on three unanswered goals to jump out to a quick 17-point lead.

The GIANTS finally got some reward on the scoreboard in the dying minutes of the final term when James Lugsdin broke the drought to cap off a nice team goal before Gruzewski followed it up with his first for the day from a set shot on the quarter-time siren to cut the lead to five points at the first break.

While the GIANTS could have considered themselves unlucky to be down after their wasted first term, there was no doubting that the second quarter belonged to the Cats who fired on all cylinders with an eight goal to two quarter to jump out to a commanding 41-point half-time lead.

Despite Gruzewski taking another strong mark early in the second term and converting for his second major to cut the lead to four points, that would be as close as the GIANTS would get for the remainder of the day as the clinical Cats went on to kick six straight goals in a blistering 17-minute stretch in the second term to jump out to a commanding seven-goal lead.

While some magic from Lachlan Keeffe ended the run of goals as the veteran kicked a brilliant set shot goal from the boundary, the Cats responded instantly with their eighth goal of the term to take a 41-point lead into half time.

As you’d expect from Wayne Cripps’ side, the GIANTS lifted in the third term- with majors to Phoenix Gothard, Gruzewski, Harry Oliver, and Ryan Hebron – however they were only able to peg back the margin by a solitary point as Geelong also added four more to their tally to hold a 40-point lead at the final change.

While the GIANTS continued to fight until the end – with Gruzewski adding his fourth major for the day in the final term – the damage had already been done as the Cats cruised to a strong win on the road – with their accuracy in front of goal and better forward half connection the difference on the day.

Draftee Harry Oliver (14 touches, five marks, one goal) was another solid contributor for the GIANTS despite the loss, while exciting small forward Phoenix Gothard (14 touches, seven tackles, one goal) and veteran Lachlan Keeffe (15 touches, 10 marks, one goal) had strong moments.

Toby McMullin (12 touches, five tackles, five clearances), Josaia Delana (13 touches, six tackles, four clearances), and Logan Smith (20 hit-outs, six touches) also had their moments against the Cats.

From the rest of the VFL-listed cohort, Billy McGee Galimberti (15 touches, eight marks) and Perry Lewis-Smith (16 touches, three tackles) were reliable across the day, while VFL skipper Ryan Hebron (12 touches, eight marks, one goal) led from the front playing both as a key defender and as a key forward.

Now sitting at 9-5 on the season and still right in the hunt for finals with four rounds remaining, the GIANTS will now clash with the Bombers at Windy Hill on Friday afternoon following the AFL clash between the clubs at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.

VFL Round 16

GIANTS       2.3 4.5 8.7 9.11 (65)
Geelong      3.2 11.4 15.5 18.7 (115)

Goalkickers

GIANTS: Gruzewski 4, Gothard, Hebron, Keeffe, Lugsdin, Oliver
Geelong: Murray 5, Molier 4, Matofai-Forbes 2, Ballantyne, Burke, Clohesy, Edwards, Hughes, Polkinghorne, Pollock