Geelong blows competition wide open with statement win over Melbourne

Geelong has thrown down the gauntlet to the rest of the competition after a statement 28-point win over reigning premiers Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium on Thursday evening, rocketing to the top of the ladder in the process.

The Demons piled on the pressure early in the final term and drew within a goal of the Cats, but Chris Scott’s team were able to settle and kick the last three goals of the game to notch up one of their most important victories of the season.

“Like all good sides do, they just find a way,” former St Kilda and North Melbourne midfielder Nick Dal Santo said on AFL Nation.

Melbourne was beaten up at stoppage, losing the clearance count 36-54 as Geelong’s experienced midfield took control against arguably the competition’s best collection of on-ballers, most notably in the third term.

Dal Santo questioned the lack of precision by foot from both sides, believing the chaotic nature of the contest may have had an impact on decision making.

“I’m absolutely loving this game with the intensity and swings at the moment but I can’t recall either team using the ball so poorly,” he said on AFL Nation.

“As much as we’ve complimented them for some of the good ball use, on the flipside some of the decisions inside 50 (are bizarre).

“I can only assume the pressure and intensity is so hot at ground level so that some of the decision making is off tonight from both teams.”

Billed as one of the games of the season, the opening half saw a typical fast-paced and frenzied content in a game that was more played between the arcs than filled with goals.

“This is shaping as a classic,” Anthony Hudson said in commentary.

An opening burst which saw Bayley Fritsch and Christian Petracca hit the scoreboard first before Gary Rohan and Mitch Duncan quickly evened things up.

Thirteen goalless second quarter minutes ensured, before Tom Atkins’ broke the deadline as the game’s intensity continued to elevate.

Christian Petracca had several moments of brilliance throughout the night, mostly notably in the second term as he burst away from stoppage to kick a long goal in a moment that resembled the defining stages of last year’s Grand Final.

Cam Guthrie’s miraculous goal from the boundary was a highlight on a night where he one of his side’s best players, as the Cats midfielder somehow managed to sneak the ball through the big sticks from the most acute of angles.

Looking ahead, Geelong heads to the MCG for a Saturday night blockbuster against Carlton in Round 18, while Melbourne will ‘host’ Port Adelaide in Alice Springs on Sunday week.

FULL SCORE

Geelong: 3.3, 5.8, 8.12, 12.19 (91)

Melbourne: 3.1, 5.4, 7.6, 9.9 (63)

GOALS

Geelong: Duncan 2, Rohan 2, Guthrie 2, Stengle, Hawkins, Smith, Atkins, Close, Holmes

Melbourne: Petracca 3, Fritsch, Pickett, Bedford, Brown, Neal-Bullen, Oliver

BEST

Geelong: Duncan, Dangerfield, Guthrie, Selwood, Atkins, Hawkins

Melbourne: Petracca, Fritsch, Oliver, Brayshaw, Viney

INJURIES

Geelong: n/a

Melbourne: n/a