Scott rapt with win in ‘finals-like’ environment; ‘Body is feeling great,’ says Dangerfield

Geelong coach Chris Scott was rapt with how the club’s new and young backline performed, especially after the Cats lost Tom Stewart with illness before match.

“I think I’ve said a lot, and I absolutely believe it, it’s not who you beat but when you play them,” Scott said.

“They [Adelaide] have been pretty hot. Like the game last week against the Gold Coast, it was probably two of the hottest teams in the competition.”

Geelong lost Stewart, having already been without Jack Henry.

“It was not only a new backline for us, but it was a young one,” Scott said.

“[The match] was finals like in terms of the pressure.

“It was good for both teams – but I’ll speak about our team – to play on that stage, in a really hot environment [was enormously beneficial].

“It was finals-like in terms of the pressure. There were some errors, but it did like for big parts of the game like two teams [really] going at it.

“Especially for our young guys in that environment it was a really good experience.”

There are another eight games remaining in this Gather Round, but it’s doubtful that any will exceed the quality of the first, in which Adelaide and Geelong traded goals, highlights and shifts of momentum.

The Crows’ offensive power has been a hallmark of their early season campaign, and it was showcased again in this superb contest. But Adelaide confronted cagey opponents who knew how to come off the ropes and unleash their own barrage.

Patrick Dangerfield’s decision to leave Adelaide and join Geelong remains one of the most consequential in modern AFL history. It is reasonable to ask whether the Crows would have won the 2017 flag with “Danger” in their side, and it is clear that the Cats wouldn’t have remained perennial contenders had they not landed the champion nine years ago.

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Bailey Smith starred for the Cats.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Patrick Dangerfield was soaking up the victory, and his key role in it.

“My body is feeling great to be honest,” Dangerfield told Fox Footy

“The last couple of years I haven’t been able to get through those first few weeks.

“Once you get through that first month you start to feel bulletproof.

“When it comes to the contest, I reckon the harder you go, the less chance you’ve got of being injured. That’s always been my philosophy.”

Dangerfield admitted that he’ll spend more time as a forward.

“Yeah, that’s the plan,” he said.

“By and large as you get older you’ve got to protect yourself.

“We’ve got really young emerging midfielders that are more than capable, and they’re earning their spot.

“The key for us this season is going to be the flexibility.”

Geelong spearhead Jeremy Cameron was a satisfied player after the final siren, looking forward to spending the weekend in Adelaide after banking a telling win to kick off Gather Round.

“Yeah, yeah it is [very special],” Cameron said on Fox Footy.

“We always feel like as a team we’re never out of it, even when we are down.

“We keep finding a way to fight back. So I think that’s really important. Even if we don’t get over the line, it’s good to show that fight.

“It’s great to end up with the result over here today in what’s a fantastic weekend.”

Teammate Patrick Dangerfield, who was instrumental in the last quarter, continued to impress Cameron with his forward craft.

“He looks like he’s out of the contest but finds a way to get there and bring the ball to ground. And that just sparks us as a team,” Cameron said.

An incredible, against-the-odds win by Geelong. Five goals down away from home with defenders Tom Stewart and Jack Henry out of the team. Jeremy Cameron kicks the sealer to break the Crows’ hearts and raise real question marks over their credentials as finalists. They could not keep up with the Cats’ runners in the midfield when Bailey Smith, Tom Atkins, Gryan Miers and Max Holmes put their foot down and tore Adelaide’s midfield apart in the second half.

There’s the siren. That’s a huge win, Geelong.

Geelong 18.11 (119) defeated Adelaide 15.10 (100)

He’s a money man. Another of Geelong’s important leaders, Jeremy Cameron, steps back and boots another one. The Cats are going to win comfortably ....

Sorry, had to say it ...

Geelong’s Bailey Smith.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images