There are wins that feel like statements, and then there are wins that feel like a quiet exhale. Geelong’s 31-point victory over St Kilda at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday was the latter. On the surface, it was another step toward securing a top-four finish, another notch in what has been a steady climb for Chris Scott’s team. But beneath the numbers, there were flickers of something far more human, the kind of moments that linger long after the final siren.

Jeremy Cameron was predictably brilliant, booting five goals in a performance that reminded everyone why he remains one of the league’s most dangerous forwards. His timing, his positioning, his sheer presence in the air—it was the kind of display that makes lesser teams wilt. But what stood out wasn’t just the goals. It was the way he lifted in the moments when St Kilda threatened to claw their way back. When the Saints closed the gap, it was Cameron who steadied the ship, a reminder that class, when it matters most, is often the difference between a good team and a great one.

And yet, this wasn’t just his game. Ollie Dempsey, who has quietly become one of Geelong’s most reliable performers, was everywhere when it counted. There’s a joy in the way he plays, a kind of carefree creativity that feels rare in a sport increasingly dictated by structure. His goal in the third quarter, a clever snap that bounced just right, wasn’t just a score—it was a spark, the kind of moment that makes fans rise to their feet not just in celebration, but in recognition of something special.

St Kilda, to their credit, never folded. They lost the game, but there was something admirable in the way they kept coming, even when the result seemed inevitable. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, still just 22 and already one of the Saints’ most exciting talents, played like a man determined to prove his worth. His contract situation looms over every performance now, and yet, under that pressure, he was brilliant. That’s the thing about sports—even in defeat, there are victories waiting to be acknowledged.

But the real story wasn’t on the stats sheet. It was in the stands, where 29,985 fans roared not just for the goals, but for the effort. Footy isn’t just about premierships or ladder positions. It’s about the way a team makes you feel, the way a single game can shift the mood of an entire town. Geelong, with its storied history and relentless pursuit of success, understands that better than most. This win wasn’t just about securing a finals berth. It was about proving, once again, that football is more than a game.

When the final siren sounded, the Cats walked off knowing that the real work was still ahead. But for one afternoon, in front of their people, they played with a freedom that reminded everyone why we love this sport. Not because of the wins, but because of the way they make us believe.