Geelong lift off the canvas to beat Tigers in thrillerPeter Ryan
The Age
June 25, 2022 — 7.31pmA big mark and goal from Geelong’s Jack Henry in the dying minutes has seen the Cats win a thriller over Richmond in a dramatic last quarter befitting two premiership contenders.
The Cats appeared gone when they trailed by 17 points in the last quarter, having coughed up a 35-point lead to once again appear Richmond’s bunnies in a game that mattered.
But Jeremy Cameron moved into the centre and turned the momentum around with creative ball use and a last quarter goal that gave the Cats a three-point win in what Tigers coach Damien Hardwick described as “a heartbreaking loss”.
Richmond were brave and unlucky, losing Dion Prestia to concussion in the first quarter after Tom Stewart elected to bump him and was reported. They then trailed by 35 points before kicking eight of the next nine goals as Liam Baker went into the middle and changed the match’s direction.
They even recovered the lead with two minutes remaining when Maurice Rioli jnr broke a run of three Geelong goals with a nerveless finish in just his ninth game.
But the centre clearance ended with the high-flying Henry, who converted from the top of the square to end a run of losses against the Tigers after leading at half-time that may have haunted Geelong if repeated for a third time.
That fact was going through Cats fans’ minds as they lost a 20-point lead in this match having let a 15-point lead in the 2020 grand final and 21-point lead in the 2019 preliminary final slip.
It seemed as though the same story was being written as Richmond were running all over a tired-looking Geelong early in the final quarter with their high intensity, high octane football as exciting as any hardcore gig.
But this version of the Cats has Cameron and the will to not let that sequel be reproduced even when most of their fans had their heads in their hands wondering how they could avoid Richmond supporters all week.
His move into the centre when Richmond looked to have the game won turned the match as he become involved in several chains of play that led to goals and kicked one himself.
Scott said Cameron’s impact was less significant in the centre bounce but shifting his starting position allowed him to become involved in play through the middle.
It was a huge shift in momentum in the third quarter as the Tigers mounted their comeback, kicking 5.4 from 10 beautifully constructed inside 50s while Geelong could not find an avenue to goal.
During this patch of the game their ball movement was swift as they swarmed any Cat who had the temerity to gain possession. It was brutal.
The Cats did not help themselves with two 45-degree kicks – one from Sam Menegola and one from Jake Kolodjashnij – missing their targets, which opened up the game enough for goals.
Hugo Ralphsmith pounced on the second miskick at the 21-minute mark of the third quarter and snapped a goal to put the Tigers in front for the first time.
Scott said they thought “long and hard” about moving Henry back at that point but stuck with the plan because of the flow-on effect, and they were lucky he was able to have an impact on the result in the forward line.
“Against the best teams it is always complicated. It’s a stressful day coaching against them because whatever move you make almost in every situation has an opposite reaction that you need to think through,” Scott said.
Richmond did not look like losing until Jack Riewoldt had a spectacular mark taken off him as Tom Lynch had dragged Sam De Koning to the ground and the Cats began to run in waves with Tyson Stengle and Brad Close instrumental with last-quarter goals.
“It was a great contest of footy. We were on the end of a heartbreaking loss today, but I reckon we learned a fair bit about ourselves and the opposition that we played and we look forward to hopefully the next time we meet,” Hardwick said.
The Cats lost the pacy Gary Rohan to illness before the game with Zach Guthrie coming into the side. It led to the matchwinner Henry playing forward as the Cats tightened their grip on the top four.
GEELONG
5.2 8.5 9.8 13.11 (89)
RICHMOND
2.0 5.3 10.7 13.8 (86)
GOALS
Geelong: Stengle 3, Cameron 3, Henry 2, Blicavs, Miers, Smith, Close, Tuohy.
Richmond: Bolton 3, Lynch 3, Maurice Rioli 2, Martin, Baker, Edwards, Clarke.
BEST
Geelong: Stewart, Stengle, Cameron, Duncan, Guthrie.
Richmond: Nankervis, Ross, Baker, Bolton, Rioli.
REPORTS
Stewart (Geelong) for rough conduct on Prestia (Richmond).
INJURIES
Richmond: Prestia (concussion).
CROWD
59,335 at the MCG.
VOTESTom Stewart (Geelong) 8
Liam Baker (Richmond) 8
Tyson Stengle (Geelong) 7
Toby Nankervis (Richmond) 7
Jeremy Cameron (Geelong) 7
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/geelong-lift-off-the-canvas-to-beat-tigers-in-thriller-20220625-p5awkc.html
