Geelong v Fremantle: Wounded Cats count cost of fightback win over Dockers

Concussed Geelong captain Joel Selwood is in doubt for next Saturday night's clash with the ladder-leading Giants as the Cats count the cost of their dramatic comeback victory over Fremantle at Simonds Stadium.

The wounded Cats, with one fit player on the bench for much of the game, prevailed by two points in the latest in a series of nailbiters; it was the fourth match of the round to be decided by three points or less.

Defender Tom Stewart suffered a suspected fractured eye socket, was taken to hospital and is likely to miss the critical match against GWS in Sydney. Darcy Lang suffered a lower leg injury and is also expected to be out of action.

The Cats fell 34 points behind at one point, yet managed to stage a remarkable comeback in the last term, kicking the last three goals.

Dazed: Geelong captain Joel Selwood is helped from the field by trainers.Credit: Robert Cianflone

Michael Walters had the chance to pinch the lead back for the Dockers with a quick shot at goal out of a pack directly in front with just a second remaining but his kick from 30 metres out went wide.

Walters will be scrutinised for dropping his knees into the ribs of Patty Dangerfield in the last term.

The come-from-behind win means Geelong stays third on the ladder, a game clear of Port Adelaide, whereas a defeat would have seen them drop to sixth and equal on points with the eighth-placed Western Bulldogs.

"[Selwood] was up and about really, really quickly, he was talking to me about the way the game was going which is a good sign," Geelong coach Chris Scott said.

Concern: Tom Stewart was transferred to hospital for scans on a suspected fractured eye socket.Credit: Robert Cianflone

"He certainly wasn't in such a state that he couldn't speak to his teammates and coaches. The short answer is yes [he is in doubt] but which end of the spectrum from extreme doubt to just a little bit [I don't know].

"I suspect because he is pretty good now they [doctors] won't rule him out right away. We'll just have to cool our jets for five or six days.

Crocked: Darcy Lang leaves the ground with a possible calf injury.Credit: Robert Cianflone

Scott said Stewart's eye injury was significant as he was taken straight to hospital. "The doctors are confident there is damage there, don't want to speculate."

The match was one of the ugliest of the year, with Fremantle dominating and Geelong fumbling and sloppy for much of the match.

Under scrutiny: An incident between Docker Michael Walters and Patrick Dangerfield will be reviewed.Credit: Robert Cianflone

"I can't really rationalise it. Sometimes you are playing poor footy and things seem to go against you even more and logically you would think you would play even worse," Scott said.

"At half-time and three-quarter time things didn't look good for us, we kept losing players. We had players out there who were sore and had to play through it. We weren't playing our style of footy.

"One thing you can't accuse our players of right at the moment is giving up. When things were going against us we found a way to stay in the game. Iit could have gone either way. We think it was a win full of merit, not in terms of skill execution but in terms of will and mental application."

The comeback came on the back of individual brilliance by Dangerfield and others such as Mitch Duncan.

"It is fair to say when Joel went down he [Dangerfield] knew a lot was going to fall on his shoulders and he is one who embraces those situations. The really good players relish those moments," Scott said.