A hamstring injury to captain Patrick Dangerfield soured Geelong’s fifth win on end, a 26-point triumph over Adelaide at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday.
The Cats opened up a 16-point gap in the first half, led by Dangerfield who was clearly the No.1 player on the ground, racking up 16 disposals, three clearances, four tackles and five inside-50s to half-time.
But he was seen limping in the rooms at the long break and reappeared in the second half in a tracksuit with ice strapped to his left hamstring, with the Cats subbing in Oliver Dempsey early in the third term.
The Crows also made their substitution at the start of the third term, replacing concussed key defender Nick Murray with midfielder Matt Crouch.
Murray had the job on Jeremy Cameron, who had to produce some magic to kick two goals in the first half, but the Crows had to rearrange their backline to cover Cameron and Tom Hawkins.
Dangerfield was sublime in the first half against his former side, matched up with Crows skipper Jordan Dawson for much of it.
Dawson had 11 disposals and three clearances in the first quarter to Dangerfield’s five touches, but the Cats skipper had 11 disposals and three clearances of his own in the second quarter to help Geelong take a comfortable buffer into the main break.
But despite his withdrawal being felt around the ball, the Cats held up resolutely to hold on for their fifth straight win, with Max Holmes (22 disposals, six clearances) lifting in the midfield in his absence.
It was a high stoppage game, but that suited the Cats, who defended the ground well and made it difficult for the Crows to access their tall timber ahead of the ball.
Jonathon Ceglar impressed in the ruck against Riley O’Brien in the first half, and Dangerfield capitalised most until he was subbed out.
The Crows took it up to the Cats late, but the reigning premiers were too classy.Credit: Getty Images
That appeared to open the door for Adelaide to assume better control of the contest, and the Crows closed to within three goals when Izak Rankine snapped a goal from the boundary with just under 10 minutes to play.
Holmes put the margin back out to four goals, kicking a goal from the 50-metre arc, after receiving a free kick behind play, but the Crows kicked two more, to put the Cats under frantic pressure in the final few minutes. Geelong’s class shone through late.
Cameron kicked 3.2 in the win, taking his season tally to 33.
Unique free kick
Ceglar was penalised for time-wasting, after he threw the ball up in the air to the field umpire instead of straight to him at a stoppage.
The ball had been wrapped up at Geelong’s half-forward line, and Ceglar came up with the ball, only to lob it above head height to the umpire when asked for it.
The umpire elected to pay a free kick to Adelaide for time-wasting.
Meanwhile, Brad Close was penalised for a dangerous tackle on Dawson, in which Dawson’s face appeared to hit the ground. The tackle is sure to attract some scrutiny from the match review officer based on the incidents cited in the first seven weeks of the season.
Cats’ injury list
Dangerfield’s hamstring injury adds to a lengthening injury list for the reigning premiers.
Cam Guthrie (toe) and Tyson Stengle (arm) are on the short-term injury list, while Sam De Koning’s face fracture has the young key defender ruled out for at least a fortnight.
Jack Henry (foot) and Rhys Stanley (eye socket) are unlikely to play before the Cats’ mid-season bye, while Sam Menegola (knee) won’t be available until the second half of the season.
Jack Bowes (calf) and Gary Rohan (hamstring) are also on the short-term injury list, but coach Chris Scott said during the week he wouldn’t rush Rohan back into the senior side.
