Geelong has defeated Collingwood by 20 points victory on a chilly Friday night at the MCG.
The Cats are now inside the top four with the rest of the round to play thanks to the 13.13 (91) to 10.11 (71), leaving the Pies out of the eight on percentage.
The victors relied on ebbs and flows of impact from its playing group, with different names bobbing up to impact in small moments.
After Geelong got a fast start, in which it kicked three goals early, Collingwood steeled itself and hit back with the next three majors.
The fightback and ensuing arm wrestle was born from the Pies’ relentless work rate. Super proactive in their defensive spread, they repeatedly shut down any attempts the Cats made to switch the ball out of the back half and find an easy exit. As a result, they were often left to compete in a two-on-one.
Geelong didn’t help itself with its ball use, often fumbling the footy or dropping marks it would typically eat up. It invited Collingwood’s pressure, leading to a cycle of panicked, rushed decision-making from the Cats throughout the first three quarters.
At the turn of the final quarter, however, Geelong’s leaders stood strong to settle matters and prevent the perennial come-from-behind Pies from finding any late momentum.
Darcy Cameron was dominant in the ruck, recording 38 hitouts to half-time before finishing with a career-high 58, but more importantly working hard back into defence to plug the gap at the top of Geelong’s goal square to quell attempts to square up the footy.
The other Cameron on the field, Geelong’s Jeremy, was battling it out with Isaac Quaynor deep inside the Cats’ attacking 50. Although Quaynor gave up 16cm on Cameron, he competed well with him in the air and fought well on the deck in the one-on-one.
Geelong coach Chris Scott had signalled there was a plan brewing for Collingwood midfielder Nick Daicos, with Tom Atkins and Jack Bowes each spending some time on the Pie. Despite their efforts to not only quell him but also force him to defend their ability to win the ball, Daicos had a big impact with 32 disposals and 11 clearances.
Steele Sidebottom (28 disposals, nine intercepts and a goal) continued to flourish across half back and Jamie Elliott’s (five marks, two goals) return offered Collingwood some organisation in attack in the absence of Brody Mihocek.
COLLINGWOOD 4.5 6.8 8.10 10.11 (71)
GEELONG 3.5 7.6 10.9 13.13 (91)
GOALS
Collingwood: Richards 2, Elliott 2, Lipinski, Hoskin-Elliott, Crisp, De Goey, Sidebottom, Cameron
Geelong: Cameron 3, Neale 2, Stengle 2, Mannagh, Close, Miers, Dempsey, Bowes, O.Henry
INJURIES
Collingwood: N.Daicos (corked left hamstring), Schultz (head knock)
Geelong: Stewart (head knock)
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Reef McInnes (replaced Lachie Schultz in the final quarter)
Geelong: Ollie Henry (replaced Shannon Neale at three-quarter time)
Crowd: 73,435 at the MCG