Cool Cats down Crows
ROUND 3 : GEELONG V ADELAIDE
G. Miers 3, G. Rohan 2. T. Hawkins 2, G. Ablett, C. Constable, H. Taylor, J. Clark, P. Dangerfield, S. Menegola, T. Atkins.
T. Lynch 2, B. Crouch, J. Jenkins, L. Murphy, M. Crouch, R. Atkins, R. Knight, R. Sloane, T. Walker.
P. Dangerfield, M. Duncan, M. Blicavs, T. Kelly, G. Miers, T. Stewart, G. Ablett.
B. Crouch, R. Sloane, A. Keath, M. Crouch, T. Lynch. T. Kelly (ankle), M. O’Connor (hip) P. Seedsman (knee). Brett Rosebury, Brendan Hosking, Andrew Stephens 45,631 AT Adelaide Oval. PREMIERSHIPS are not won in April.
But the foundations for a tilt at a flag can certainly be laid.
Geelong further boosted its premiership credentials with a gutsy win over Adelaide, absorbing a stern Crows challenge to score a 24-point win at Adelaide Oval.
The result could move the Cats into flag favouritism by the end of the round. Is it deserved? On what we’ve seen in the first three weeks, absolutely.
If there was a game the Cats could have let slip, last night’s contest was probably it.
There were excuses to take: an interstate trip, five-day break, tough opposition.
But rather than using those excuses and wilting in the final quarter when the Crows surged at the hostile venue, the Cats steadied and kicked clear with goals to Gary Ablett, Gryan Miers and Gary Rohan.
The Miers goal especially epitomised everything that is bold and enthusiastic about the 2019 Geelong model.
With the game in the balance, he took on the responsibility to kick a brilliant running goal from a tight angle under pressure, despite having options inside.
It was the type of goal he kicked regularly during his Geelong Falcons days, and something he has managed to seamlessly bring into his kit bag at AFL level.
The Cats played some of their best running football in a dominant first half.
Adelaide surged into contention with a brilliant third term, cutting the 23-point halftime margin back to three points at the final change.
Rory Sloane kicked the first goal two minutes into the third term and it ignited the Crows from their first-half slumber.
But despite the pressure, the Cats’ defence remained tight, as it did against Melbourne a week earlier.
It took 15 minutes before Taylor Walker could sneak out the back of that defence for the Crows and reduce the margin to eight points.
That was quickly turned on its head when Tom Hawkins kicked a much-needed goal, followed by another to Patrick Dangerfield 30 seconds later, and the Cats had some breathing space again.
But Tom Lynch’s goal on the three-quarter-time siren left the Crows with the momentum going into the final term.
With the game well and truly on the line, a number of key Cats, who’d been quiet to that point, stood up.
Rohan, who had four touches to three-quarter time, kicked the first goal of the final term to give the Cats some air.
He then took a strong mark in the goalsquare to help extend the margin to 23 points.
In between those moments Ablett bobbed up.
With only nine touches to his name to three-quarter time, the veteran kicked a goal from outside 50 to keep momentum with the Cats.
Miers then added the class with his telling goal to break open the contest.
While the Cats were tested, they held their nerve when it counted and kicked away, taking their season to a 3-0 start.
Dangerfield was Geelong’s major ball-winner, finishing with 32 touches, while Miers continued the impressive start to his career by being the leading goalkicker with three.
Tom Stewart was again immense in defence, while Mark Blicavs and Harry Taylor were also resolute when Adelaide made its charge in the third term.
Lachie Henderson managed to blow out the cobwebs in his first game back for 2019, but showed some signs of rust.
The Cats again had 10 goal kickers, sharing the scoring load superbly.
As we have seen in the first three rounds, Geelong’s youngsters were irresistible.
Jordan Clark provided lots of run off half-back, while Charlie Constable finished with 23 touches and a goal in the midfield.
These youngsters are helping drive the Cats’ season as much as the veterans.
There are still plenty of things the Cats need to work on if they want to lift the premiership cup come September.
You cannot allow teams to lock the ball in their forward line for sustained periods and expect to keep winning.
But there is a hell of a lot to love about what the Cats are doing right now.
The foundations are built after a tough start to the season. It is now time for Geelong to kick on from that.
Upcoming games against GWS, Hawthorn and West Coast are crucial. If the Cats can get through that unscathed anything is possible.