If you're a Geelong Cats fan, the 2021 season probably lives in a strange place in your memory. It was a year of dominance, resilience, and ultimately, heartbreak. The Cats finished the home-and-away season with a 16–6 record, securing a top-four spot and earning the right to host two finals at the Cattery. But as the old saying goes, "nearly" doesn't win you a flag. And for Geelong, 2021 was the story of being nearly there—close enough to taste it, but not close enough to hold it.
This case study breaks down how the Cats approached the season, what worked, what didn't, and why 2021 remains one of the most bittersweet chapters in recent club history.
Background / Challenge
Coming off a 2020 season that ended in a preliminary final loss to Richmond, Geelong entered 2021 with a clear mission: win the AFL Premiership. The core of the list was aging but experienced—Joel Selwood was still leading from the front, Tom Hawkins was in the prime of his career, and Patrick Dangerfield remained one of the competition's most explosive midfielders. Coach Chris Scott had been at the helm since 2011, and the expectation was clear: this group had one more genuine shot at the flag before a rebuild loomed.
But the challenge was multifaceted. First, the AFL competition was deeper than it had been in years. Melbourne, the Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide, and Brisbane all looked like genuine contenders. Second, Geelong had a reputation for being "nearly there" in big moments—since 2011, the Cats had made the finals every year but only reached one Grand Final (in 2020, which they lost). Third, the list was getting older. Key players like Selwood (33), Hawkins (32), and Dangerfield (31) were still elite, but the window was closing fast.
The challenge wasn't just about winning games—it was about proving that this group could close the deal.
Approach / Strategy
Chris Scott and the coaching staff took a two-pronged approach in 2021: maximize the output of the veteran core while integrating younger talent to provide depth and energy.
Tactical Shift
Geelong's game plan in 2021 was built around pressure, ball movement, and contested marking. The Cats leaned heavily on their ability to win the ball at the contest—led by Dangerfield and Selwood—and then use precise kicking to hit Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron (acquired in the 2020 trade period) inside 50. The forward line, with Hawkins and Cameron as a twin towers setup, was arguably the most dangerous in the league.
Defensively, Geelong relied on a structured zone that forced opponents into wide, predictable kicks. The backline, anchored by Tom Stewart (who won the All-Australian selection), was disciplined and rarely beaten one-on-one.
List Management
The Cats also made a calculated bet on the AFL Draft. In 2020, they traded heavily to bring in Cameron, sacrificing early draft picks. In 2021, they focused on developing younger players like Max Holmes (pick 20 in 2020) and Tanner Bruhn (who would arrive later), while giving games to emerging talents like Brad Close and Gryan Miers. The Geelong VFL team served as a crucial development pathway, ensuring that when injuries hit, the next man up was ready.
Home Ground Advantage
Kardinia Park had undergone significant redevelopment in recent years, and by 2021, the GMHBA Stadium was a fortress. The Cats knew that winning at the Cattery would be critical to securing a top-two finish and a home final. The strategy was simple: make the ground a nightmare for visiting teams with its narrow dimensions and passionate crowd.
Implementation Details
The 2021 season unfolded in three distinct phases.
Phase 1: Early Dominance (Rounds 1–11)
Geelong started the season with a bang. They won seven of their first nine games, including a statement 44-point victory over Brisbane at the Gabba. The forward line clicked immediately—Hawkins kicked 35 goals in the first 11 rounds, while Cameron added 22. Dangerfield was averaging 25 disposals and a goal per game, and Selwood was as reliable as ever.
Key wins included:
- Round 4: Defeated Hawthorn by 52 points at the MCG
- Round 7: Beat Melbourne by 19 points at the Cattery
- Round 10: Smashed Port Adelaide by 38 points at GMHBA Stadium
Phase 2: Mid-Season Slump (Rounds 12–18)
Then came the wobble. Between rounds 12 and 18, Geelong went 3–3, with losses to Sydney, Richmond, and St Kilda. The issues were clear: the midfield struggled when Dangerfield was tagged, and the forward line became predictable when Hawkins was double-teamed. Injuries also started to bite—Cameron missed three games with a hamstring issue, and Stewart was sidelined for two weeks.
The most concerning loss came in Round 16, when the Cats lost to Richmond by 15 points at the MCG. It was a game that felt like a playoff preview, and Geelong simply didn't show up.
Phase 3: Late-Season Charge (Rounds 19–23)
The Cats responded. They won four of their last five games, including a crucial 28-point victory over the Western Bulldogs in Round 22. The win secured a top-four finish and gave Geelong a home qualifying final.
The final home-and-away game was a 42-point demolition of Melbourne at the Cattery—a result that sent a message to the rest of the competition: the Cats were back.
Finals Series
The 2021 AFL Finals Series began with a qualifying final against Port Adelaide at GMHBA Stadium. Geelong dominated from start to finish, winning by 62 points. Hawkins kicked five goals, and the midfield—led by Dangerfield (30 disposals) and Selwood (28)—was unstoppable.
That set up a preliminary final against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG. The winner would face Melbourne in the AFL Grand Final.
The game was a classic. Geelong led by 10 points at three-quarter time, but the Bulldogs stormed home in the final term, kicking five goals to two to win by 10 points. It was a devastating loss—the Cats had been 10 points up with 15 minutes to go, and they simply couldn't hold on.
The season ended one game short of the premiership decider.
Results
Let's look at the numbers.
Home-and-Away Season
- Record: 16–6
- Percentage: 123.4%
- Finishing position: 3rd
- Points for: 2,145 (4th in the AFL)
- Points against: 1,738 (2nd in the AFL)
Key Player Stats
- Tom Hawkins: 61 goals (2nd in the Coleman Medal), 14.5 disposals per game, All-Australian selection
- Jeremy Cameron: 43 goals from 19 games, 12.2 disposals per game
- Patrick Dangerfield: 24.3 disposals, 1.1 goals per game, All-Australian selection
- Joel Selwood: 22.1 disposals, 4.5 tackles per game
- Tom Stewart: 22.1 disposals, 6.2 intercepts per game, All-Australian selection
Finals
- Qualifying Final: Defeated Port Adelaide by 62 points at GMHBA Stadium
- Preliminary Final: Lost to Western Bulldogs by 10 points at the MCG
Awards
- Tom Hawkins: All-Australian, Geelong leading goalkicker
- Patrick Dangerfield: All-Australian
- Tom Stewart: All-Australian
- Joel Selwood: All-Australian (40-man squad)
Attendance
- Average home attendance: 38,412 (GMHBA Stadium capacity was limited due to COVID-19 restrictions)
What Worked
- The Forward Line: Hawkins and Cameron formed one of the most potent duos in the league. When both were fit and firing, Geelong was almost impossible to defend.
- Home Ground Dominance: The Cats went 8–2 at GMHBA Stadium in the home-and-away season, plus the qualifying final win. The Kardinia Park redevelopment had turned the Cattery into a genuine fortress.
- Defensive Structure: Tom Stewart's intercept marking and the team's zone defense made Geelong one of the hardest teams to score against.
- Veteran Leadership: Selwood, Dangerfield, and Hawkins set the standard. Their experience was invaluable in close games.
What Didn't Work
- Midfield Depth: When Dangerfield was tagged or had an off night, the midfield struggled. No other player consistently stepped up to fill the void.
- Preliminary Final Execution: The loss to the Bulldogs highlighted a recurring issue—Geelong's inability to close out big games. The Cats had the lead at three-quarter time but couldn't finish.
- Age Profile: The list was old, and it showed in the final quarter of the preliminary final. The Bulldogs, a younger team, had more run and energy when it mattered most.
- Draft Capital: The trade for Jeremy Cameron cost Geelong two first-round picks. While Cameron was excellent, the lack of young talent coming through was a concern for the future.
For Chris Scott, the season was a reminder that in the AFL, being close doesn't count. The premiership is the only thing that matters, and Geelong fell one win short.
For the players, 2021 was a year of what-ifs. What if Cameron hadn't missed three games? What if the midfield had more depth? What if the preliminary final had gone differently?
But here's the thing about the Cats: they don't dwell. The 2021 season is now part of the club's championship history—a chapter that reads "nearly there" but also serves as motivation for what's to come.
If you're a Geelong fan, you look back at 2021 with pride and pain. Pride because the team was elite. Pain because they were so close. And hope because the core of that team returned for another crack in 2022.
The 2021 season review is a reminder that in football, as in life, "nearly" isn't enough. But it's also a reminder that the journey—the wins, the losses, the moments of brilliance—is what makes the eventual flag taste so sweet.
For more on Geelong's journey through the years, check out our premiership history overview and the 2015 season review to see how the Cats have evolved.
This article is part of the Geelong Cats Insider series on championship history.
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