Cautious Geelong survive test against surging Demons at MCG
A cautious Geelong withstood a late surge from Melbourne to win by three points at the MCG.
A cautious Geelong withstood a late surge from Melbourne to win by three points at the MCG in a triumph that continued the trend of a curious season.
The Cats returned to the eight with their third win from five matches but can consider themselves fortunate to take the spoils 7.5 (47) to 6.8 (44) in a defensive struggle.
Melbourne’s Adam Tomlinson narrowly missed with a long-range attempt in the final minute to snatch victory for the Demons, with Geelong’s triumph setting the stage for a fascinating encounter next Saturday in Geelong.
The Cats are on a win-loss-win-loss streak dating back to Round 11 last year – their loss to Richmond to end 2019 and the Giants to begin 2020 aside – but have good reason to change the trend when they host the vastly improved Gold Coast.
Barring any concerns this week, dual-Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett will play his 350th match, while Cats skipper Joel Selwood reaches the 300 game milestone when they tackle the Suns.
There will be significant interest in how the Gold Coast’s emerging star Matt Rowell, who is already third-favourite for the Brownlow Medal, fares against the pair and fellow champion Patrick Dangerfield in the midfield.
Selwood, who stated he had “plenty of petrol in the tank” after the Cats’ triumph, said Geelong will need to improve on their performance against the Demons.
“It was a tough game. I think both sides were a little bit up in the air at times, but we are happy to take the win,” he said.
“We have to work on that a little bit and freshen up. We are taking on a red hot Suns side next week. There is plenty to work on.”
The Demons’ narrow defeat followed Essendon’s one-point loss to Carlton on Saturday night.
It is difficult to state with any certainty whether the postponement of their clash last Sunday due to Bomber Conor McKenna’s positive test to coronavirus had an impact on this weekend’s results. But both Essendon and Melbourne both started slowly in Round 4 before surging late on in their matches.
There is a significant injury concern for Geelong, who will head to Perth to be based in a hub after the clash with the Suns.
Two-time All Australian Tom Stewart broke a collarbone in what appeared an innocuous bump with Demon Tom McDonald behind play.
Tom Stewart could face more than a month on the sidelines.
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) June 28, 2020
How it happened was absolutely bizarre.
WATCH > https://t.co/qdyMRkk8aR#AFLDeesCats pic.twitter.com/q6jERz1YxZ
Dangerfield is also certain to be monitored despite finishing the match after being forced from the field by a heavy bump from Michael Hibberd at the start of the final quarter.
The 30-year-old was assessed on the interchange bench and missed several minutes of the final term.
Dangerfield was able to return to the fray with 11 minutes remaining and had an opportunity to seal the match when he earned a free kick with four minutes remaining.
But the Cat missed everything. And when Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw was able to kick a goal with two minutes remaining, the margin was just four points and the match very much alive.
This was the most lively period of a clash in which defensive priorities came to the fore.
.@GeelongCats's Patrick Dangerfield has come to the bench after this collision with opponent Michael Hibberd.#AFLDemonsCats pic.twitter.com/5aN9h43qYR
— AFL (@AFL) June 28, 2020
The Cats were content to chip the football around between each other, controlling the tempo of the play while taking uncontested marks on a regular basis.
They took 112 marks for the match – well above their season average of 71 per game – compared to the Demons’ 52.
It was, Selwood said, a deliberate tactic, but it only just worked.
Geelong have significant firepower through the midfield and in attack, but the decision to grind their way to victory left them vulnerable to Melbourne’s late surge.
The go-slow intent was clear from the start. The Cats kicked two goals while holding Melbourne goalless in the opening term.
The reverse occurred in the second term as the Demons booted two goals to zero to lead by one point at halftime.
Geelong booted four goals to one in the third term to seize control of the match, with Dangerfield, Brandan Parfitt and Cam Guthrie lively in attack.
When Tom Hawkins finally found accuracy midway through the final term, the Cats looked home but they received a scare as Tom McDonald and Angus Brayshaw snared late goals.
It was a tremendous effort from Brayshaw, who spoiled the Cats as they were attempting to clear defence and then put himself into position to receive the handball.
But Tomlinson was unable to snare a second win from three matches for Melbourne when his shot from 50 metres slipped by the wrong side of the goalpost.
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