ABLETT FIRES UP
GEELONG has marked Gary Ablett’s return home with a pulsating three-point win over Melbourne at the MCG.
Demons ruckman Max Gawn took an outstanding mark at the death and had an easy set shot at goal from only 20m out. But it went wide and the Cats held on to win, with the clash living up to its billing as the match of the opening round.
Melbourne’s Jayden Short also had a set shot on the final siren, but he was 60m out and his torpedo punt fell 10m short.
After Jesse Hogan goaled to bring Melbourne to within five points at the 11-minute mark in the last quarter, the game finished with six successive behinds. Cats forward Daniel Menzel starred with four goals, but he had two of those misses after taking great marks.
Crucially, those behinds gave the Cats a seven-point lead and the Demons closed out the match with four misses.
Gawn also had a snap at goal that went wide.
After seven years at Gold Coast, Ablett impressed in his return to the Cats with 39 possessions and a goal.
While all the pre-game focus was on Ablett, it was the newcomers who stood out in a see-sawing first quarter.
As the lead changed four times, Melbourne debutant Bayley Fritsch kicked the opening goal of the match.
Three minutes later, Geelong first-gamer Esava Ratugolea did the same. Fellow Cats debutants Lachie Fogarty and Tim Kelly also kicked their first AFL goals in the opening half.
Ablett delighted the Geelong faithful when he kicked their fourth goal in the first term and the Cats led by four points at quarter-time.
Geelong took control in the second term as it dominated outside play, despite losing defender Harry Taylor in the first term with an ankle injury.
The Cats kicked seven goals to one and had Melbourne on the ropes at the main break, leading by 27 points.
Geelong dominated uncontested possessions 126-79 and had a remarkable 20 scoring shots from 24 inside-50s.
Cats midfielder Cam Guthrie did his best Dustin Martin impersonation to fend off Melbourne opponents and highlight the second term with an outstanding goal.
But the Demons changed the game in the third term, tightening up their defensive play and cutting down Geelong’s outside run.
With veterans Jordan Lewis and Bernie Vince pivotal across back and defender Josh Wagner also impressive, the Demons kicked five goals to one and reduced the margin to seven points at the last change.
Christian Petracca starred for the Demons in the midfield.