Geelong beat Dockers to bolster top-four hopes
Geelong have put themselves right in the mix for a top-two finish after posting a thrilling 11-point AFL win over Fremantle at Optus Stadium.
In Jeremy Cameron’s 250th game, Geelong kicked three goals to one in the final quarter of Saturday’s match to secure the 10.13 (73) to 9.8 (62) win.
The result lifted Geelong (14-7) into third spot, just percentage adrift of GWS.
And with games against St Kilda and West Coast to round out the season, the Cats are right in the mix to not only secure a top-four berth, but lock in second spot.
Fremantle (12-8-1) could finish the round as low as eighth.
Saturday’s loss marked the fifth time this season Fremantle had led at three-quarter time but lost the match.
Patrick Dangerfield was huge for Geelong with 20 disposals, 11 clearances and a goal.
But he also committed arguably the biggest blooper of his career when the game was on the line in the dying minutes.
With Geelong leading by just three points, Dangerfield sprinted forward to run onto a bouncing ball at the top of the goalsquare.
But instead of gathering the ball to run in for an easy goal, Dangerfield unleashed a volley that missed.
He also sent a 50m set shot out on the full a short time later.
But it mattered not, with Shaun Mannagh kicking the winning goal to seal a crucial victory.
Fremantle midfielder Caleb Serong led the way for his side with three goals to go with 22 disposals and six clearances.
Fremantle’s Bailey Banfield could be in strife after pushing his elbow into Zach Gurthrie’s head after the Geelong defender had taken a mark.
The Dockers were forced into a late reshuffle when ruckman Sean Darcy was ruled out just 30 minutes before the opening bounce.
Fremantle rushed veteran Matt Taberner into the side, leaving Luke Jackson as the No.1 ruckman and Patrick Voss as his back-up.
Cameron started his 250-game milestone celebrations in style, nailing a 40m set shot from the boundary line to spark a four-goal run from the Cats.
Trailing 24-1, Fremantle worked their way back into the contest with goals to Serong and Jordan Clark, reducing the margin to 13 points at quarter time.
Geelong forward Gryan Miers produced the AFL’s version of a googly when his snap from the pocket curved the other way and sailed through for a remarkable goal.
Fremantle midfielder Hayden Young immediately followed that with a bursting run and 55m goal.
Geelong led by six points at half-time despite trailing heavily in disposals (204-143) and inside 50s (29-19),
One notable stat that showcased Geelong’s fight was the tackle count, with the Cats winning that 35-19.
Fremantle made their move in the third quarter, kicking 3.3 to Geelong’s wasteful 1.5 to take a four-point lead into the final change.
Dockers forward Voss produced the highlight of the third quarter when he twice fended off Zach Guthrie in the pocket before squaring the ball to Jye Amiss, who kicked truly from close range.
Dangerfield broke a run of five consecutive behinds from the Cats when he took a strong mark and nailed his 40m set shot early in the final quarter.
It helped set the tone for the Cats, who were the hungrier side when the game was there to be won.
Geelong lost Tanner Bruhn to concussion from a second-quarter collision involving Andrew Brayshaw.
Bruhn was bent over the ball when he clattered into Brayshaw, who did his best to ensure the impact wasn’t worse.
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