Geelong come from behind to defeat North Melbourne in a thriller at Etihad Stadium
GEELONG came from behind in an epic last quarter to defeat North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium in a reminder that footy can be a cruel game, Jon Ralph writes.
Geelong
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THE OLD Kangaroos crew of past coaches and officials have always wondered why didn’t Brad Scott sculpt his team in his image as a player.
On Sunday a North Melbourne outfit desperate for respect and credibility finally unleashed their inner junkyard dog.
Just like Scott as a fierce competitor who alongside his brother made up Brisbane’s feared “Kray Brothers” they went for the jugular.
WATCH THE INCIDENT THAT SAW BRAYDON PREUSS REPORTED IN THE VIDEO ABOVE
It wasn’t always pretty — in fact twice it crossed the line into illegal and cheap — but for a full three quarters it was something to behold.
If not for the breathtaking intervention of “Dangerwood” — Geelong’s brilliant duo — that rampant aggression would have carried the day.
Instead after a pair of 11-possession final quarters from Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield, Brad Scott came up grasping at thin air instead of four premiership points.
Once again they dragged Geelong back into the game and allowed George Horlin-Smith to nail the 40m set shot in a one-point win.
But while Geelong on Sunday escaped to remain unbeaten, the Kangaroos fans went away content this building team is also on the right track.
Down by 32 points 13 minutes into the third quarter and 25 points at the last change, the Cats looked to have slipped on another banana peel.
Instead with Harry Taylor thrown into defence as a steadying influence and Scott’s star pair throwing off the shackles, it went down to the wire.
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With 170 seconds left Marley Williams looked to have broken the deadlock with a 50m goal, before his brilliant smother on Josh Cowan just a second later.
Then ruckman Braydon Preuss’s clumsy high tackle on Horlin-Smith saw him slot home the winner with 1.04min on the clock.
Up in the box, coach Chris Scott said he felt a strange sense of calm as Horlin-Smith lined up.
“I was amazed how relaxed I was watching it, you have no control over that situation,’’ he said.
“He is a really diligent worker and he does like the big moments as well.
“He is not the most talented player out there, he does have talent, but you know he will deliver because he’s taken the shots and done the work.”
It was heartbreaking for the Kangaroos and yet perversely so encouraging against a Geelong team with plenty of familiar issues.
They don’t seem capable of winning without that pair igniting them, as Steven Motlop, Jordan Motlop and co rolled around looking reactive and indecisive.
Dangerfield’s first 18 touches to half time contained eight ineffective touches and three outright clangers.
He continually butchered the ball by foot, at one stage in the third term still going at 25 per cent efficiency.
Yet just as the Roos looked home they again went into their shells to allow the Cats to pour on five last-term goals.
For so long in Sunday’s contest North Melbourne owned the contest and across the ground was determined to let the Cats know it.
Here was Majak Daw crunching Selwood with his 110kg frame in legal tackles, making him earn every clearance.
There was best-afield Shaun Higgins putting Patrick Dangerfield onto his backside as he pumped the ball long.
And for a time Trent Dumont at least dulled the influence of Dangerfield, allowing the Roos to build on their lead.
Two incidents Kangaroos players will regret — Thompson’s cocked elbow into Patrick Dangerfield’s head and Preuss’s clumsy knee into Jackson Thurlow’s back
But first-round pick Jy Simpkin slotted a clever snapped goal, Preuss and Daw were both excellent, and Higgins was the game’s star.
His two running goals were sublime, he pumped the ball inside 50 nine times and he set up three direct goal assists.
Preuss was a revelation replacing the injured Todd Goldstein and across the board there was spark and life.
Footy is seldom fair, but after the Roos cracked in and just finally ran out of puff, it seemed especially cruel on Sunday.
BEST:
Geelong: Dangerfield, Selwood, Duncan, Menzel, Tuohy, Duncan,
North Melbourne: Higgins, Tarrant, Dumont, Cunnington, Brown, Ziebell, Daw
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