Geelong too strong in battle of big cats
GEELONG have solidified their premiership credentials and put a major dent in reigning premiers Richmond’s finals hopes with a convincing 38-point win at the MCG.
In the second grand final rematch of the season, the Cats overwhelmed the Tigers in all the major categories – putting the game to bed with a late first-half avalanche kicking seven unanswered goals.
Patrick Dangerfield (28 disposals, seven marks, seven clearances) was sensational in the middle of the ground, while Tom Hawkins and Esava Ratugolea booted four goals each.
The result puts the Cats only percentage behind the ladder leading Western Bulldogs heading into the final four games of the season.
However, Joel Selwood was unable to finish the game after he succumbed to a corked quad in the thirdterm.
Meanwhile, Richmond sit outside the eight going into the final stretch and will head immediately into quarantine in Perth before their mustwin clash against Fremantle next Sunday.
It was also the first time since 2016 that the Tigers lost to the same opposition twice in the same season which coincides with the last time they missed finals.
Damien Hardwick’s side sorely missed the impact of gun midfielder Dustin Martin as the Tigers took to the field for the first time since his season-ending kidney injury.
Richmond brought the heat early but were undone by the Cats’ dominance in the contested ball (47-33 at quarter time) and ability to lock the ball inside their own half (15-9 inside 50s).
Geelong’s forwards ultimately made better use of their opportunities around goal with Rhys Stanley’s late goal giving the Cats a 10-point lead at quarter-time.
After no goals in the first 16 minutes of the second quarter, the Cats blew the dam wall open, putting the game
to bed in a stunning nineminute flurry in which they kicked the five second-term goals to open up a 41-point chasm at the major break.
The Tigers’ first-quarter pressure completely waned after quarter time (20-8 tackles in Geelong’s favour) – allowing the Cats to breeze through a listless Tigers defence.
A brief fightback after halftime gave the Tigers some hope, kicking the first two goals of the half, but wastefulness (2.3) meant they were unable to make serious inroads on the margin.
Goals from Ratugolea and medical sub Quinton Narkle either side of the final break put the game to bed.
Ratugolea made the most of the absence of the injured Jeremy Cameron with four goals – putting his hand up to keep his spot in the side even upon Cameron’s return before finals.
He may have only tallied the six touches but his eye for goal was on full show, making the most of his limited disposals.
For the Tigers, Matty Parker offered brief respite on a rough day for the premiers.
The former Saint, who was picked up in the mid-season draft impressed in his secondgame in the yellow and black, playing primarily in the midfield after spending much of his time at Moorabbin as a forward.