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.
But a concern emerged in the final seconds when last week’s 200-game Tom Stewart went off with a hamstring complaint.
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“That does not look good at all,” Nick Riewoldt said on Channel 7.
“That would be the only sour note out of a really positive night.”
Geelong were already dealt a blow in the second half when Jack Martin finished the game on the bench with a calf issue.
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.
But the night belonged to Geelong as Chris Scott’s side proved once again they can’t be counted out in the premiership race.
“It’s as good a win in the home-and-away season as you’ll see this year,” Cornes said.
“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.”
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.”
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.
More to come…
