Australian Football

Match Report

It wasn't perhaps the most impressive of wins, but Geelong has done enough to keep its chances of a top-two finish alive, narrowly defeating Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday afternoon. The Cats won by just 11 points in a low-scoring encounter, but they will be happy enough with that result given a recent poor record against the Magpies, and after they found themselves 23 points behind at quarter time of this match.

Collingwood was switched on from the start and a goal to Steele Sidebottom after a mark gave the Pies the first goal of the match. Another mark and goal to Darcy Moore gave Collingwood at 12-point lead at the six-minute mark, before a running goal to James Parsons put Geelong on the board. The Magpies dominated the next 15 minutes, though and two majors each to Will Hoskin-Elliott and Mason Cox saw them jump out to a 28-point lead before a late goal to Sam Menegola brought the Cats back within 23 at the first break.

Geelong followed up its late first-quarter goal with the first of the second through Patrick Dangerfield after he received a free kick for a head-high tackle. Collingwood answered with a running goal to Tim Broomhead to restore its 22-point advantage, but the Pies would find the big sticks only twice more for the rest of match from that point. A mark and Wylie Buzza had the Cats within 15 points midway through the term, and two more in time on through Jed Bews and Harry Taylor had Geelong back within three points at the long break.

It took only a minute into the third quarter for Sam Menegola to take a mark and kick his second major to give the Cats the lead. Incredibly, though, neither side was to score a goal for the next 20 minutes, as the defences of both sides proved almost impenetrable. Each team could muster only one behind in that period before Jordan Murdoch finally broke the deadlock on the cusp of time to open up a nine-point lead for Geelong. Murdoch's goal sparked an unexpected response from Collingwood, with Jarryd Blair and Broomhead combining to kick two goals in as many minutes to see the Magpies actually win the quarter and take a four-point lead into three-quarter time.

The Cats had a couple of early chances to grab the lead in the final quarter, but shots from Buzza and Dan Menzel both missed. Collingwood then had a chance to extend its lead, but Josh Thomas also missed a shot, and when the first goal of the term finally came at the 16-minute mark, through a beautiful long kick from Dangerfield, the Cats were back in front by three points. Three minutes later Murdoch marked and kicked his second, and Geelong's lead was nine points a significant one in the context of the low-scoring game. From there, the Cats controlled the play, holding Collingwood scoreless, Dangerfield and Menegola each adding a behind to shore up an 11-point victory.

Dangerfield may longer be eligible to win this year's Brownlow Medal, but his chances of getting three votes are high after another 32-possession, six-mark match. Menegola, with 11 marks and 28 disposals, was also outstanding. For Collingwood, Taylor Adams (12 tackles and 26 touches) played a fine game.

Geelong now has its fate in its own hands. A win by the Cats over GWS at Kardinia Park next Saturday night will it claim second place, earning it a home final, potentially against the Giants again, possibly at the very same venue. The Magpies will see out another disappointing season with a match against Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, after which a decision will be made on the future of coach Nathan Buckley.

GOALS
Collingwood: Cox, Hoskin-Elliott, Broomhead 2; Moore, Sidebottom, Blair
Geelong: Dangerfield 2, Murdoch 2, Menegola 2, Parsons, Buzza, Bews, Taylor

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Collingwood: Adams, Howe, Cox, Moore, Scharenberg, Hoskin-Elliott
Geelong: Dangerfield, Menegola, Duncan, Tuohy, Stewart, C.Guthrie

BEST - THE AGE
Collingwood: Adams, Scharenberg, Moore, Phillips
Geelong: Dangerfield, Duncan, Menegola, Tuohy, Stewart

INJURIES
Collingwood: Adams (head)
Geelong: Nil

UMPIRES: Nicholls, Harris, Jeffery

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy