Cats come from clouds to defeat Tigers at MCGSam Edmund
Herald Sun
15 August 2016GEELONG’S best could win the premiership, but it’s worst won’t get anywhere near it.
On Sunday at the MCG we got both in an extraordinary encounter with Richmond that the Cats edged in dramatic fashion.
Flat, reactive and error-prone, Geelong trailed by 35 points in the shadows of three quarter-time before bludgeoning the Tigers with a 6.9 to 1.0 last quarter to win by four points.
The Cats had an incredible 66 inside 50s to 39, but were woeful in their attacking half in a lacklustre display that threatened to derail their top-four hopes.
With Tom Hawkins being destroyed by Alex Rance and the game slipping away, Chris Scott swung Harry Taylor and then Lachie Henderson forward in a roll-the-dice finale.
The result was six consecutive goals and one the most important wins of Geelong’s season.
But less than 24 hours after Sydney stamped their premiership credentials with a Rolls Royce demolition of St Kilda, this was as far from convincing as wins get.
They are the enigma of the competition, Geelong.
The Cats have beaten Hawthorn, GWS, Adelaide (twice) and the Western Bulldogs (twice) this season. Yet they have also lost to Collingwood, Carlton and St Kilda.
The frustration for them yesterday was that they played all over the Tigers, but couldn’t get bang for buck inside 50m.
But Hawkins (1.2), Steven Motlop (1.4) and Shane Kersten (goalless) deserve as much sympathy as scrutiny, for their delivery inside 50m was like a bull in a china shop.
They took it in turns turning it over by hand and foot, making poor decisions and allowing the Tigers to stream forward under little pressure on the rebound.
At the last change Richmond had 17 scoring shots from 32 forward entries and were making light work of everything that was hard work for the Cats.
In a piece of play that summed up the first three quarters, Tom Lonergan couldn’t bend over to pick up a dribbling ball in defence. Henderson then fumbled Lonergan’s tap and Shaun Hampson, of all players, swooped while being tackled and snapped a floater over his shoulder for a goal.
But when Josh Caddy goaled 15 seconds into the last quarter to cut the margin to 29 points the fuse was lit. Richmond tried to save the game instead of winning it and the Cats smelt blood.
Patrick Dangerfield had nine possessions and four inside 50s in the last half-hour to finish with 30 and 11, Corey Enright had earlier kept the Cats within striking distance and Joel Selwood had it 30 times.
The final siren brought equal parts relief and celebration, but there are more questions at Geelong than a daytime soapie.
Can Zac Smith, well beaten by Shaun Hampson, end the season like he started it?
Can Hawkins, obliterated by Alex Rance, get on his bike and influence games again? Hawkins only came to life once Taylor and Henderson required Rance’s attention.
Can Mark Blicavs get back to his 2015 form? Last year’s best and fairest winner is a nearly-there player at the moment.
What has happened to Mitch Duncan? Ditto Josh Caddy? Motlop goes missing for massive chunks of time and often appears casual when the situation demands urgency.
Does Henderson now play forward more, given he excels in the lead-up role the Cats appear to be so in-need of?
So many questions. Will September bring out the right answers?
GEELONG 2.2 3.7 4.13 10.22 (82)
RICHMOND 2.4 7.4 11.6 12.6 (78)
GOALS
Geelong: L McCarthy 2 S Menagola 2 H Taylor J Caddy J Selwood S Motlop T Hawkins Z Smith.
Richmond: S Lloyd 3 D Rioli 2 T Vickery 2 B Lennon J Riewoldt S Edwards S Grigg S Hampson.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/geelong-clawed-back-a-35point-deficit-to-defeat-richmond-at-the-mcg/news-story/12843748ff31e749b27407d232e341d9
