Ryan Abbott – 3
Was always going to be tough ask in his fourth game to come up against the best ruckman in the competition. Abbott tried hard and wasn't completely outplayed, but Gawn's quality showed out in the end. Missed a gettable set shot in the second quarter, booting three behinds for the night.

Gary Ablett – 6
Playing in his first finals game in 2912 days, the little master looked a little rattled early but worked into the game to finish with a team-high 27 disposals. Started off the back of the square at stages, but seemed to lack his usual polish under Melbourne's intense pressure. Won too many of his touches in his defensive half. 

Jed Bews – 7
Was probably Geelong's best player early in the game under an enormous amount of pressure. Bews did some good things defensively, winning some key ground balls at vital stages. You could not knock him for his effort.

DEMONS V CATS Full match coverage and stats  

Mark Blicavs – 4
The Cats were clearly worried about Max Gawn's influence in the ruck, with Blicavs spending some time in the centre square when Abbott was off the ground. Largely opposed to McDonald, Blicavs did not have the defensive impact in the air he would have liked. Still did a reasonable job against a flurry of Melbourne inside 50s. 

Patrick Dangerfield – 7
Went into the finals series in a purple patch of form, but could not bottle that as much as he would have liked. Won enough of the footy (25 touches), but had 12 clangers and operated at just 52 per cent disposal efficiency. Gave his all but was not nearly enough as Geelong was well beaten in the midfield. 

Mitch Duncan – 3
Didn't break the lines as well as he usually would and didn't really look threatening. A slip in front of Gawn that led to a holding the ball decision as the Cats were trying to muster a comeback summed up his disappointing night. 

SHOULD CATS CHANGE TACK? Which route forward for Geelong?

Cameron Guthrie – 3
Started on the bench at the start of each quarter and played primarily in the midfield, at times was matched up on Oliver. After gathering nine disposals in the first half, Guthrie faded out of the game in the second to finish with 14. Appeared to be hampered by a corkie and spent time forward once the game was out of reach. 

Tom Hawkins – 4
The spearhead booted seven goals the last time these sides played in round 18, but he could not relive those heroics on Friday night. Kicked two goals and took seven marks, but was beaten on the night by Sam Frost. The Cats' dreadful ball movement did not help his cause. 

Tom Hawkins had limited opportunities. Picture: AFL Photos

Lachie Henderson – 5
After a frustrating season because of injury, Henderson was still trying to find his feet in defence and his lack of match conditioning showed at times – particularly when he tried to chase down Mitch Hannan in the final quarter. Pretty solid from a defensive point of view and will hope his luck can turn in 2019. 

Jack Henry – 3
Finished equal-fifth in NAB AFL Rising Star voting, but the youngster could not find a way to stamp his impact on the game. Took just one mark, which is his strong suit, but then again the delivery to him was abysmal. 

Tim Kelly – 5
A leading contender to win Geelong's best and fairest award, the midfielder had a quiet first quarter with just one disposal and looked a little unsure across the night. Got the Cats on the board after Melbourne's first-quarter onslaught and finished with 18 disposals, trying to spark his side in the third term. Speculation about whether he might seek a trade back to a West Australian club is swirling. 

Jake Kolodjashnij – 3
Has been moved up to the wing in the latter half of this season but is probably more comfortable in defence. Doesn't win enough of the ball or use it constructively enough to play through the midfield. Just 14 touches on the night. 

Sam Menegola – 2
His stat line doesn't look that bad – 20 disposals and four inside 50s - but that doesn't tell the full story. Menegola's night was riddled by mistakes and he got his kicks smothered on at least four occasions. Tried to do too much with the ball at times, and took the advantage on a free kick to Daniel Menzel in the second term as the Cats were mounting a comeback but hit the post. A dirty night. 

Daniel Menzel – 2
Controversially dropped ahead of the Cats' first final last season, Menzel did not make a good start to Friday night's game, going without a disposal in the first term. Had just eight disposals, with his ability to fight for the ball at ground level exposed. Also missed an easy shot running into goal in the third quarter as Geelong was trying to spark a comeback. 

Jordan Murdoch – 2
Got caught holding the ball trying to take the game on in the first term when the pressure was at its highest. Copped a big head knock in a tough contest with Aaron vandenBerg and was assessed for concussion. Came back onto the ground but did not have a big impact. Kicked a goal late but had just seven disposals for the night. 

Mark O'Connor – 7
Playing in just his seventh career game, the young Irishman stood up under intense pressure and played his role. Had just 12 disposals but was rarely beaten in one-on-one contests and even backed himself to take a bounce and send the ball forward in the third term. One of Geelong's best players. 

DEMONS LOVE IT HOT Five things we learned

Brandan Parfitt – 3
The youngster did not have much of an impact with just 13 disposals. Was thrown into the centre bounce setup late in the game to try to get something going for the Cats, but was not able to do so. Missed a set-shot which slid across the face of goal from the pocket, but was on a hiding to nothing as a small forward in a team that had just 43 inside 50s on the night. 

Joel Selwood – 5
The Cats skipper had his colours lowered against James Harmes, who constantly got under his skin. The effort was there, but he would have been disappointed with his lack of discipline at a crucial stage in the game. Gave away a silly free kick in front of the interchange benches that led to the umpire taking the ball off Tom Hawkins while he was lining up for goal in the third quarter. Then slipped at the inopportune moment while looking to step around Jack Viney as the Cats tried to build momentum at the start of the fourth term. 

Scott Selwood – 6
Was moved to half-forward for the final two games of the season as Geelong went searching for a disciplined player who could apply forward pressure. Started the game forward and tried hard to assert himself on the contest physically. Was not Geelong's worst and had three score assists. 

Tom Stewart – 3
Capped a remarkable rise with his maiden All Australian guernsey following a superb 2018 campaign. But his performance on Friday night against Melbourne fell well short of those lofty heights. Stewart looked rushed with the ball and got beaten in the air on a few occasions. Suffered a neck injury in the third term. 

'NEED TO LOOK AT OURSELVES' Ablett does some soul searching

Harry Taylor – 7
The experienced Taylor was close to Geelong's best player on a night where there were few. Playing in his third game back following a niggling foot injury that has interrupted his season, Taylor was strong with his defensive spoils and he was largely composed with the footy. Finished his night with a team-high eight one-percenters. 

Zach Tuohy – 5
Tuohy had 19 disposals but didn't take enough risks with his ball use against a rabid Melbourne side. Still he operated at 94.7 per cent disposal efficiency and fought hard when the game was dead and buried. Kicked an excellent snap goal at the start of the fourth term to try to spark his side.