A third-quarter blitz led by Shaun Mannagh has inspired Geelong to a dominant win over reigning premiers Brisbane in the grand final rematch on Thursday night at the Gabba.
The Cats held a slim two-goal advantage after two tense quarters but exploded after the break, with Mannagh kicking three goals in as many minutes on the way to five in total in the 17.15 (117) to 11.10 (76) victory.
A worry appeared to emerge in the final seconds when last week’s 200-game milestone man Tom Stewart went off with a hamstring complaint.
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But Stewart, who had an impressive 17 intercept possessions, soon revealed he had simply given himself a corkie.
“All good. I kneed myself in the hamstring,” he laughed in Channel 7’s post-game show.
Geelong had already been dealt a blow in the second half when Jack Martin, who has battled plenty of soft-tissue injuries in the past, finished the game on the bench with a calf issue.
Despite those concerns the night belonged to the Cats as Chris Scott’s side proved once again they can’t be counted out in the premiership race.
Brisbane were well off the pace with in the third quarter in particular, laying just two early tackles in a performance rated “not good enough” by Kane Cornes, who declared Geelong’s triumph “as good a win in the home-and-away season as you’ll see this year”.
“Five-day break with travel, to come and knock off the back-to-back premiers on their home deck on a Thursday night — what a performance and a message this Cats team is going nowhere,” he said.
Luke Hodge feared Geelong had “finally got to the cliff and fallen” when they suffered early in the season but instead they are clicking to now sit 7-3 and a win clear of Brisbane (6-4).
Cats star Bailey Smith produced a brilliant all-round performance with 34 disposals, 11 tackles, seven clearances and two goals while Oisin Mullin stunted Brisbane’s dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale.
“It’s a good one to set up the ladder for later in the year, to get one over them,” Smith told Channel 7.
“But they won it when it most mattered so that still stings. But you’ve always got a bit more of an edge to play someone who beat you in a granny.”
Mannagh, who had 30 disposals and three goal assists to go with his five goals, said he was in a “flow state” in the third quarter.
He credited the performance to Lions great and long-time mentor Jason Akermanis.
“I met with him this morning for a coffee and caught up. He gave me a few tips about the Gabba,” Mannagh said.
Brisbane veteran Josh Dunkley rated Geelong as their best competition so far this year ahead of Sydney, the Bulldogs and Melbourne.
“We’ve got to be better,” he said.
Darcy Wilmot had 31 disposals and Charlie Cameron was lively with three goals to lead the Lions, but Hugh McCluggage was uncharacteristically sloppy to sum up Brisbane’s fortunes.
Former Lions captain Dayne Zorko, who has missed time with a calf injury this season, was a late withdrawal as coach Chris Fagan instead promoted James Tunstill on a wet night.
Patrick Dangerfield and Smith both kicked impressive early goals from the right pocket as the Cats collected 23 inside-50s to eight and led by 22 points.
The hosts found a response though and, behind a 15-3 clearance count, roared back to level when Cameron chased Sam Draper’s go-ahead kick and rolled it home from that same right pocket.
But a Darcy Gardiner 50m penalty for late contact took some wind out of their sails, and more turnovers led to two late Geelong goals and a 12-point half-time lead.
Logan Morris missed two set shots. and when Zac Bailey dropped a mark inside 50 the Cats put their foot down, booting five goals in seven minutes to stretch the lead to 41 points.
Mannagh managed three of his own in a five-minute stretch before Jeremy Cameron broke free to snap a goal and cancel out Draper’s streak-snapping goal for the Lions.
Brisbane maintained hope with two late goals – they hit the post twice too – late in the term to make it a 29-point game at the final break.
But Cameron’s third major, after more Brisbane fumbles, pushed the Cats beyond 100 points and into safe waters.
– with AAP
