GEELONG 15.9 (99) d RICHMOND 10.9 (69)
Liam Baker heading for the ball with three cats in pursuit.Credit: AFL photos
KEY POINTS
EARLY DANGER SIGNS
For four and a half games, Geelong was in arrears.
They had lost to Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Gold Coast, Greater Western Sydney and were being overhauled by the Tigers at home. At one point in the GMHBA clash, the fierce Tigers led by 29 points.
It must have been a tough watch for Patrick Dangerfield, still stuck in the trainer's box waiting for his hamstring to clear up (lock him out next week).
But Danger would have been proud of the Cats' midfield quartet of Jack Bowes, Tanner Bruhn, Max Holmes and Tom Atkins, who were overshadowed for the first two quarters but dragged the young Tigers into the third quarter.
They did so by winning the clearances 12-5, the central clearances 6-1, the clearances 6-4 and the Cats left the third quarter entries 17 to 11. Shannon Neale put them in front for the first time in all the match. the 20-minute mark of the third quarter. Ollie Dempsey managed a maximum of three majors.
His effort has catapulted Geelong back onto the winners list and suddenly his 8-4 return for the season looks healthy.
One negative for Geelong was losing Ollie Henry to hamstring awareness in the second quarter.
Shannon Neale of the Cats celebrates a goal with teammate Max Holmes.Credit: AFL photos
AN EARLY BALL
Geelong appeared to rethink the new rule of keeping the ball in the opening half.
They were timid in getting close to the feet and timid in trying to hold off the more determined Tigers brigade.
It's ironic, considering that their coach Chris Scott was the first to publicly express problems with the catch rule.
There were no problems for Richmond. They turned up the early rebound pressure and were fierce in the contest.
They even seemed to get close to the green when it came to the umpires. At least three times in the first two quarters, Richmond players were tackled, appeared to drop the ball, and yet the refs called the play. One even put a smile on Scott's face, and we're betting it didn't make him happy.
Geelong got it right in the third term. They attacked the ball and made heavy tackles.
Twice they were rewarded in the third quarter – once when Liam Baker tried to break free and soon after when Thomas Dow dragged the ball back under his body.
YOU HAVE TO LAUGH
Richmond were brave and ultimately lacked strength in numbers, but they provided the two funniest moments of the night.
The first was when Marlion Pickett walked off the floor in the final quarter, went down with calf pain and gave the Geelong crowd the bird (an action that will likely result in a fine).
When pointed out to the great Richmond and Seven commentator Matthew Richardson, he was quick to defend Pickett.
“There's nothing wrong with that from me,” Richardson said, tongue in cheek.
“But I'm probably not the guy to ask to be honest. Over the years I've had a hard time (giving the crowd the bird).
The other highlight came from Richmond tight end Noah Balta, who was seen on the bench during the second quarter referencing a notebook. To add to the intrigue, he was then seen scribbling notes with a pen. We do not deceive you. He seems to be a true student of the game.
But whatever I was reading and whatever I was writing down, it worked. The Tigers led by 16 points at halftime.
