Patrick Dangerfield inspires miracle Geelong comeback against Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs blew a chance to finally claim a scalp after Geelong fought back from a six-goal quarter-time deficit to win by 11 at Metricon Stadium.
The Western Bulldogs blew a chance to finally claim a scalp after Geelong fought back from a six-goal quarter-time deficit to win by 11 points at Metricon Stadium on Friday night.
Luke Beveridge’s side had been criticised this year for not beating any of the top sides but it looked like doing so and reminding the football world that it too remained in the mix for the flag when it held the Cats goalless during a stunning opening term.
From there, Geelong came to life as Patrick Dangerfield (32 touches, six clearances) helped inspire the fightback.
The Cats lifted their defensive pressure, stymied the Bulldogs’ quick ball movement, kept them goalless in the second term and had cut the lead to 10 points by three-quarter time. Gary Rohan was immense when the game was on the line, laying a huge chasedown tackle that won a free on Tim English and kicking two fourth-quarter goals.
His second sealed a massive victory that took Geelong to the top of the ladder, at least for now, and enhanced its flag credentials.
In a start few would have seen coming, the Bulldogs exploded out of the blocks, kicking four goals inside 13 minutes, then two more before quarter-time.
They only led the inside 50 count 12-9, but they were able to hit the scoreboard almost every entry, while the Cats could not make the most of their opportunities.
While the Dogs’ skills were sublime early, Geelong could not hit a target.
It was Geelong’s first goalless quarter since Round 12 last year against Richmond.
Gryan Miers booted the Cats’ opening major six minutes into the second term.
Dangerfield was prolific for the Cats, finishing as the leading possession winner on the ground and lifting when his team really needed it.
He had been quiet early when the Bulldogs jumped out to a six-goal advantage, having only three first-quarter possessions, but had a huge second term to get Geelong back in it.
Dangerfield had 11 touches in that quarter but was just as important in the last, crashing into packs, winning clearances and willing his side over the line.
The Bulldogs continue to have no issue conceding hit-outs so it can essentially have an extra midfielder around the ball and Tim English as another focal point in attack.
Geelong won the statistic 50-13 as 190cm on-baller Josh Dunkley spent large chunks of the game pitted against Rhys Stanley (200cm) and Mark Blicavs (198cm), and Jack Macrae (191cm) had a stint in there.
But when the game was on the line in the last term, English returned to the centre square.
Geelong finished on top 36-28 in clearances.
Tom Hawkins still leads the race for this year’s Coleman Medal but it is definitely not over with four-and-a-half rounds to play after he was held to just two goals.
The power forward entered the match with 33 majors and went to 34 after snapping a goal in the third term.
From there, he had some nice moments up the field and added another in the last term.
With Hawkins’ closest challenger Josh Kennedy (28 goals) a chance to miss the next game due to concussion and Dan Butler (24) and Tom Lynch (24) nine behind, the Cat remains favourite to win the award for the first time but the door remains ajar.
Herald Sun
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