GEELONG has overcome a sluggish start and gun defender Tom Stewart’s absence to bank a dramatic 14-point victory over St Kilda that lifts them into top spot on the AFL ladder.
The Cats conceded the opening five goals of Saturday’s clash in Geelong then rallied to prevail 13.7 (85) to 11.5 (71).
Geelong’s star recruit Jeremy Cameron and veteran spearhead Tom Hawkins kicked a combined seven goals to help decide a contest that remained in the balance until Patrick Dangerfield grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck.
Dangerfield clutched a sensational mark in the forward pocket with three and a half minutes remaining in the match then snapped truly, giving his side an eight-point buffer and effectively ending the Saints’ finals hopes.
A 16th win of the season meant Chris Scott’s side leapfrogged Western Bulldogs and Melbourne on the ladder, although the latter will lead the minor-premiership race if they defeat Adelaide on Sunday.
Geelong ruck-forward Esava Ratugolea was bothered by a leg injury for much of the second half, while St Kilda’s Darragh Joyce was substituted off late after his head slapped the turf during a Hawkins tackle.
There are fears that Stewart’s foot injury, suffered at training on Thursday, could keep him out of action throughout the finals.
The Cats were always going to miss arguably the most reliable member of their miserly defence, a two-time All Australian with a remarkable ability to read the play.
But the early evidence of how much they might struggle without Stewart was frank.
Max King’s second goal opened up a 31-point lead for the visitors in the opening quarter, at which point a shell-shocked Geelong remained scoreless.
Cameron plus usual suspects Dangerfield, Cameron Guthrie and Sam Menegola led a spirited response.
Cameron booted the last goal of the first term then the final two goals of the second quarter, trimming St Kilda’s buffer to just six points at halftime.
Hawkins, restricted to a single goal last week when the Cats suffered a shock loss to GWS, lifted in the third quarter to help his team hit the front.
Dean Kent’s behind trimmed Geelong’s lead to a single point with eight and a half minutes remaining in the final quarter.
But Dangerfield, who finished with 24 contested possessions, nine clearances, six tackles and most likely three Brownlow votes, stepped up to settle the hosts’ nerves.
(C) AAP 2021
GEELONG 2.0 6.2 10.5 13.7 (85)
ST KILDA 5.1 7.2 10.3 11.5 (71)
Goals: Geelong: J Cameron 4 T Hawkins 3 B Close I Smith P Dangerfield R Stanley S Menegola S Simpson. St Kilda: T Membrey 3 B Crouch 2 C Sharman 2 M King 2 J Higgins Z Jones.
Umpires: Mathew Nicholls, Hayden Gavine, John Howorth.
Venue: GMHBA Stadium.
