Summary
This was about as emphatic as it gets from Geelong. A close encounter was expected at the Gabba but it wasn’t anything of the sort. The Cats were hard at it from the outset and didn’t let Collingwood in the game until the last quarter. The Magpies had just seven points to three-quarter-time and were on track for their lowest ever score in a final. They averted that, but some late goals could not disguise what an embarrassing loss this was. Geelong did as they pleased, dominating possession, stoppages, marks - 134-46! - and any other measure one might like to choose. They simply kept the ball to themselves. Collingwood came here on the back of a rousing win over Wert Coast, but they left it all in Perth. They looked heavy-legged and flat, utterly incapable of dealing with the aggression and bluster Geelong threw at them.
Geelong’s win means the top four sides are through to next week’s preliminary finals. The Cats will face Brisbane Lions and will do so buoyed by this magnificent victory. Their elderly statesmen were great tonight, led by Patrick Dangerfield. The former Brownlow medalist played up forward and kicked four goals to go with his six marks and 19 touches. More pertinently, he played like a man who did not entertain defeat. It was contagious. Gary Ablett was influential at times and is not done yet. He went to the Gabba knowing this could be his last game. It isn’t. If Geelong play next week like they did tonight, he might have two more games in him.
Thanks for your company tonight. Let’s do it again next week.
Updated
FT: Geelong 15-10 (100) beat Collingwood 5-2 (32)
A few goals from Collingwood in the final term but they can’t mask what this was: a thorough shellacking. Geelong were awesome, dominant, ruthless. The Pies were lacklustre. It was no way to end their season but over it is. Geelong are alive. Brisbane next.
Updated
Q4: 1 min remaining: Geelong 15-10 (100) vs Collingwood 5-2 (32) Goal! That’s career No 600 for Hawkins. And it was classic Hawkins. On the lead. Chest mark. Goal. Put a fork in the Pies. They’re done.
Q4: 2 mins remaining: Geelong 14-10 (94) vs Collingwood 5-2 (32) Cox crumbs a loose ball - you don’t see that every day - and he releases De Goey but his shot on the run misses. Last rites now for Collingwood. May they rest in peace tonight.
Q4: 3 mins remaining: Geelong 14-10 (94) vs Collingwood 5-1 (31) Delightful contested mark from Rohan inside-50. He didn’t have front running but he made it his own as the Pies defenders sat back and watched. Deserved a goal. But instead he hits the post. Stanley getting his knee looked at after a knock in the middle of the ground.
Q4: 5 mins remaining: Geelong 14-9 (93) vs Collingwood 5-1 (31) Goal! It’s raining majors in the final term and this one from Stephenson was a beauty, flushed perfectly from 50 metres out on a tight angle.
Q4: 6 mins remaining: Geelong 14-9 (93) vs Collingwood 4-1 (25) Goal! Geelong chip the ball around as they please and find Hawkins in splendid isolation deep inside-50. Easy as you like. Stanley leaves the ground rather gingerly. I think they’re just looking after him. The cotton wool comes out.
Q4: 7 mins remaining: Geelong 13-9 (87) vs Collingwood 4-1 (25) Goal! From the kickout, Selwood reads the play and intercept marks before going back and splitting the uprights. He’s got his knockers, but what a player. Another prelim next week for him.
Q4: 8 mins remaining: Geelong 12-9 (81) vs Collingwood 4-1 (25) Ablett lines up from just inside 50 but he can’t put icing on the cake, missing to the right. But he’ll sleep well tonight, knowing he hasn’t played his last game.
Q4: 10 mins remaining: Geelong 12-8 (80) vs Collingwood 4-1 (25) Goal! Another one for the Maggies and another one for Mihocek. Collingwood actually win a stoppage clearance and Mihocek does some good foraging near goal to make the scoreline look less embarrassing.
Q4: 11 mins remaining: Geelong 12-8 (80) vs Collingwood 3-1 (19) Goal! Collingwood go back-to-back and this time Mihocek is rewarded for his good work - he has been one to Pie to put in tonight. These are junk-time goals but in a way Collingwood will take them. Geelong are now looking after themselves. Except for Dangerfield. He’s plain bonkers tonight.
Q4: 12 mins remaining: Geelong 12-8 (80) vs Collingwood 2-1 (13) Goal! For Collingwood. I’m serious. Grundy presents across half-forward and kicks truly from distance for the Magpies’ second major. Their lowest score in a final - 11 points - remains their lowest score in a final.
Q4: 13 mins remaining: Geelong 12-8 (80) vs Collingwood 1-1 (7) Goal! Another six-pointer for the Cats, this time for Menegola. It actually seems like there is only one team out there.
Q4: 14 mins remaining: Geelong 11-8 (74) vs Collingwood 1-1 (7) Goal! Another clearance out of the middle. Dangerfield is the target. He get a free for holding and coolly slots his fourth goal. If it wasn’t a procession before, it is now. Actually, it was before. Collingwood have checked out.
Q4: 15 mins remaining: Geelong 10-8 (68) vs Collingwood 1-1 (7) Goal! The final term of Collingwood’s 2020 season begins. The only thing that is certain is Dangerfield won’t take his foot off the pedal. Centre clearance for Grundy. Straight to Geelong. Fifty-metre penalty. Straight to Dangerfield. Goal. That’s three for Rodney.
Updated
3QT: Geelong 9-8 (62) vs Collingwood 1-1 (7)
Just the three behinds in that quarter. Collingwood perhaps upped their workrate - albeit from a very low base to start with - but Geelong essentially continued to play with them. They know the game is won and they are now preserving themselves for next week. Had a trial game feel about it, that quarter. Collingwood’s lowest ever score in a final is under threat. That’s about all there is to play for in the last quarter.
Updated
Q3: 1 min remaining: Geelong 9-8 (62) vs Collingwood 1-1 (7) Mihocek almsot takes a contested mark deep in attack for Collingwood. But he doesn’t. And that is the story of Collingwood’s night. Just not happening. At all.
Q3: 2 mins remaining: Geelong 9-8 (62) vs Collingwood 1-1 (7) Collingwood blow another chance to make inroads inside-50 - Stewart intercepts without opposition - and Geelong to revert to their kick-mark game. Why not? The Pies are barely even chasing.
Q3: 4 mins remaining: Geelong 9-8 (62) vs Collingwood 1-1 (7) Geelong turn the ball over in the middle of the park - a rare mistake - and the ball gets to the right man. Pendelbury finds Elliott with a sharp pass but the forward misses a set shot that he really should have kicked.
Q3: 6 mins remaining: Geelong 9-8 (62) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) The Pies go long and high inside-50 but it’s just not working. Geelong are stacked at the back - they seem stacked everywhere tonight - and have no problems working the ball out of defence.
Q3: 9 mins remaining: Geelong 9-7 (61) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) Big Cox is back out there and good to go. Geelong are finding their range again - and racking up the possessions - but they’re not as precise going inside-50 so far, hence the lack of scoring. But the game is continuing to be played on their terms. After an early flurry, Collingwood are struggling to get their hands on the ball.
Q3: 11 mins remaining: Geelong 9-7 (61) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) Pendlebury started off (as he did in the second quarter) but now runs onto the ground. Carrying a niggle? Not sure. Why wouldn’t he start?
Q3: 12 mins remaining: Geelong 9-7 (61) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) At least Collingwood’s effort looks better in the early part of this term. With a lead like this, and with Brisbane on the horizon, how hard will Geelong go in this second half? The answer to that is pretty hard - Dangerfield goes orbital and tries to bring down a huge hanger. No cigar and the ball dribbles through for a behind. That man wants it bad.
Q3: 14 mins remaining: Geelong 9-6 (60) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) Ripper of a contested mark from Blicavs, and for his troubles Cox cops a knee to the ribs. That looks sore. Nothing - nothing! - going right for Collingwood. Cox actually heads down the race.
Q3: 15 mins remaining: Geelong 9-6 (60) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) And we’re up and running in the third term. Can Collingwood come back from here? Of course they can. Will they? No. At least Geelong haven’t scored in the opening minute.
I’m feeling pretty happy here, 20CNS, but Jonathan Howcroft could definitely do with some patronage. And, yes, there is a good game happening in the NRL.
I haven’t seen any, but will this file pic do?
HT: Geelong 9-6 (60) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6)
Yikes. One-way traffic. Geelong are positively belting Collingwood. Quite simply a breathtaking half of footy from Geelong. Clearances = 20-9. Stoppage clearances = 14-5. Inside-50s = 25-11. Uncontested possessions = 125-58!!!!!!!!!!!
The Cats are doing as they please. They’re playing keepy-offs and, alarmingly, Collingwood aren’t giving a yelp in response. They look knackered. Geelong’s solitary goal is the second-lowest half-time score of 2020 and (according to Fox Footy) the lowest half-time score in a VFL/AFL final for 60-odd years.
Dangerfield is BOG but they’re all putting their hand up. Horrible viewing for a Pies fan.
Updated
Q2: 1 min remaining: Geelong 9-6 (60) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) Goal! I must admit, I was a bit busy searching Tracy Chapman. But when I looked up Guthrie had the ball, set shot right on 50. He drills it. I can only assume Geelong worked it away from centre with a minimum of fuss. That’s how they’ve rolled all night. Absurdly easy, is this.
Q2: 3 mins remaining: Geelong 8-6 (54) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) Goal! Dangerfield = man possessed. Madgen finds himself cornered in the back pocket and tries (foolishly) to break the Dangerfield tackle. Holding the ball. From a similar angle to before, the great man puts it through - after some delay due to a goal review. No, goal ump, it didn’t hit the post. Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car reverberates around the stadium. That’s what Collingwood might like right now - a fast car straight outta dodge.
Q2: 5 mins remaining: Geelong 7-6 (48) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) Geelong are running rings around Collingwood, who look flat-footed and tired. The Cats have numbers, and run, all over the park. Now it’s Rohan’s turn for a shot at the sticks but he misses the lot. Can a game be over with five minutes to go in the second quarter?
Q2: 7 mins remaining: Geelong 7-6 (48) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) Dangerfield is (not literally) on fire. He wanders slightly upfield, wins the ball (of course) and finds Hawkins. From a tight angle on the left he slots it through with a conventional drop punt. Couldn’t kick straight last week. Can’t miss tonight.
Q2: 9 mins remaining: Geelong 6-5 (41) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) Geelong are smashing Collingwood in clearances. Stoppages are all theirs. Another thrust forward finds Miers on the run but he hits the post. Collingwood really struggling to deal with these repeat entries inside-50. It’s an avalanche that the Pies need to somehow stop.
Q2: 11 mins remaining: Geelong 6-5 (41) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) Collingwood do go inside 50 but it’s high, long and none too handsome. The Cats talls down back have no issue dealing with entries like that.
Q2: 12 mins remaining: Geelong 6-5 (41) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) It’s raining shots for Geelong. Dangerfield is running amok inside. He barges through, finds Duncan and the snap from range looks good but just misses to the left side. Pies juts can’t get it past halfway.
Q2: 14 mins remaining: Geelong 6-4 (40) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) Goal! Another long ball forward for Geelong. Dangerfield judges it best and takes a nice chest mark in the right forward pocket. Tough, tough set shot from there but he caresses it through to the adulation of the crowd. All class. Collingwood with major issues here.
Q2: 15 mins remaining: Geelong 5-4 (34) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) Goal! Ouch. Big centre clearance for Geelong, Dangerfield crashes the pack - and gets rid of about three defenders - Hawkins collects the crumb and releases Dahlhaus, who does the rest. On a positive note for Collingwood, Adams looks to be OK.
Agree, MT. You’d think he’d go back and have a shot from there any day of the week.
Still tipping the Pies, 20CNS? Stranger things have happened.
QT: Geelong 4-4 (28) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6)
All Geelong. The Cats simply denied Collingwood the ball in that opening term, and were decisive when they had it themselves. ‘Just’ the one major for Tom Hawkins, so Geelong are not going to him exclusively. The Cats’ big guns are getting involved, sometimes rather too easily, and Collingwood have lots of thinking to do to find a way back. Early days, though.
Vintage Gary Ablett going inside 50. 👌#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/2n0UPPwhG4
— SEN 1116 (@1116sen) October 10, 2020
Updated
Q1: 1 min remaining: Geelong 4-3 (27) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) Goal! Instant reply from Geelong. Straight out of the middle, Hawkins gets into space deep inside-50 and he plays on from his chest mark to cancel out Collingwood’s opener.
Q1: 1 min remaining: Geelong 3-3 (21) vs Collingwood 1-0 (6) Goal! Collingwood forge their way inside-50 off the back of a 50-metre penalty and from an ensuing stoppage Elliott takes the ball cleanly and snaps beautifully to register the Pies’ first - and much-needed - goal.
Q1: 2 mins remaining: Geelong 3-3 (21) vs Collingwood 0-0 (0) Taylor Adams off the ground with an apparent injury. Dangerfield runs onto a long ball and looks likely but a dud bounce favours the Collingwood defender and a rushed behind is the result.
Updated
Q1: 3 mins remaining: Geelong 3-2 (20) vs Collingwood 0-0 (0) Now Parfitt finds time and space inside the arc to take an uncontested mark. His shot from range is a bit of a mongrel but it looks on target ... only to hit the post.
Q1: 4 mins remaining: Geelong 3-1 (19) vs Collingwood 0-0 (0) De Goey has a set shot on goal but shanks it silly. Out of bounds on the full.
Q1: 5 mins remaining: Geelong 3-1 (19) vs Collingwood 0-0 (0) Goal! Ablett pivotal again as he spies Miers on his own deep inside-50, sends it lace up and the man with the dreads does the rest. All Geelong right now. Collingwood need to fix this.
Q1: 6 mins remaining: Geelong 2-1 (13) vs Collingwood 0-0 (0) Mihocek bombs a floater deep inside-50 and Cameron is under it. Looks like an easy chest mark but he fluffs it. Forward entries have been few and far between so far for Collingwood, so they need to take their chances.
Q1: 7 mins remaining: Geelong 2-1 (13) vs Collingwood 0-0 (0) Goal! Geelong on top in clearances, a bit harder at it in the middle. Guthrie gets involved and Stanley finds himself with space inside-50, takes an uncontested mark and slots it home from an acute angle to make it two early goals for the Cats.
Q1: 9 mins remaining: Geelong 1-1 (7) vs Collingwood 0-0 (0) Goal! Now Ablett gets involved, all the time in the world, and spots Tuohy on the lead. The Irishman gets a free for an arm chop, goes back and slots it straight through the middle for the first goal of the game. Geelong have settled the better. Early days.
Q1: 10 mins remaining: Geelong 0-1 (1) vs Collingwood 0-0 (0) Hot, hot ball out there. Geelong find a way to break free, Dangerfield finds space to release Hawkins and his shot under the pressure is a ... behind.
Q1: 12 mins remaining: Geelong 0-0 (0) vs Collingwood 0-0 (0) The Cats are very careful out of their back half. Possessing the ball like it’s their own. Geelong control a stoppage with Selwood involved but the ball inside 50 is too long. Hawkins has a snap at goal but it misses everything. Hawkins doing well in ruck against Grundy deep in attack.
Q1: 14 mins remaining: Geelong 0-0 (0) vs Collingwood 0-0 (0) Collingwood go inside-50 and De Goey almost takes a big grab. Almost. Not quite. Dangerfield starting forward for the Cats.
Q1: 15 mins remaining: Geelong 0-0 (0) vs Collingwood 0-0 (0) Big handpass from Selwood out of the centre to get us under way. But Collingwood have it covered. A bit of chip and mark to get the ball rolling.
Players taking their positions. Seconds away...
Our view is quality over quantity. But yes, the more footy the better.
National anthem now. Footy soon.
Talk about divided loyalties!
— Zane Bojack (@zanofc) October 10, 2020
This Brisbane family has a foot in both camps tonight with bragging rights & a prelim up for grabs in #AFLCatsPies
Beautiful conditions at the Gabba with 23 degrees & very little dew..
Let’s get it on!! Live on @abcgrandstand now pic.twitter.com/0CaOWTdJll
A bit of time on the sidelines for those naughty Crows.
No late changes to tonight’s teams. So there is just one change between the two, Geelong omitting Tom Atkins for Sam Simpson.
While I think of it, a round of applause for Joel Selwood.
The third most finals in league history 👏 #AFLCatsPies @Deakin pic.twitter.com/aBHHBeDo5w
— Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) October 10, 2020
Updated
While on the Lynch incident, from where I’m sitting Trent Cotchin’s head-high sling on Zak Jones was far worse. Not according to match review officer Michael Christian, who chose not to record the tackle in his findings.
“If your intent is just to tackle and it happens to slip high, then that is part and parcel of the game,” Cotchin told 3AW earlier today.
Hmmm. Once the tackle slipped high, did he really need to carry on and rag-doll the Saint? I would argue Cotchin’s act was “manifestly excessive”, to use the words of the week. All’s well that ends well I suppose, but it just looked like a spinal or neck injury waiting to happen.
Discuss.
And in new just in ... Tom Lynch is free to face Port Adelaide
Take it away, AAP:
Richmond forward Tom Lynch has avoided suspension for dropping his knee on St Kilda defender Dougal Howard and will be free to play next Friday’s AFL preliminary final against Port Adelaide.
Lynch gave away a 50-metre penalty for throwing Howard to the ground, then dropped his left knee on the defender’s neck and shoulder area during the third quarter of Friday night’s game at Metricon Stadium.
Match review officer Michael Christian assessed the incident as a second offence of “misconduct” and offered Lynch a $750 fine with an early plea.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick had played down the “minuscule” incident post-match, while defending Lynch’s aggression.
The Cats have gone to the right ground. That’s always a good start.
Here come the Cats 🐱 #AFLCatsPies #GeelongStrong pic.twitter.com/hC8MmFWNMx
— Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) October 10, 2020
So if Geelong do drop this one, is it the end of an era? It seems the Cats have gone from era to era in the past decade and a bit. We’re forever told they’re on their last legs and this season is definitely it but here they are again, one win away from a preliminary final. Yes, Geelong boast an old list but topping up with experience has been part of their modus operandi for a while now. But there is no getting away from the fact they are running out of time to furnish Ablett, Selwood and Dangerfield with a premiership while each is playing. Just think about it - this could be Ablett’s last game.
Ronny Lerner had a good look at the ageing Cats, and their fierce rivalry with Collingwood, in a really nice piece published a couple of days ago. If you missed it, tuck in.
Preamble
Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of this tantalising sudden-death final at the Gabba. Geelong are rightly favourites to proceed to a preliminary final meeting with Brisbane Lions, but they are not over the line by any stretch. Chris Scott might view inspection of his team’s finals record as “lazy” but the numbers don’t lie - under him the Cats are just 4-12 in the post-season since their premiership year of 2011. The spectre of a straight-sets exit hangs menacingly, and with their galaxy of stars nearer the end of their careers than the start Geelong know there is no time like the present.
Standing in the way of another prelim is Collingwood, who were all heart in their elimination final win over West Coast. Their procession to week two of the finals was a study in roll-up-your-sleeves determination. There was plenty against the Pies last week at Optus Stadium but they took every punch the Eagles could throw before delivering the killer blow in the final term. It will be interesting to see what the effort, and the trip West, has taken out of Collingwood, but they are undoubtedly running into form at the right time of year.
The midfield battle will be one to watch but it’s how both sides perform in front of goal that might be decisive. Geelong have done well this year isolating Tom Hawkins but when he is held the Cats tend to lose, as was the case when Collingwood beat them by 22 points in round seven. Geelong also missed his scoreboard influence last week against Port Adelaide, when his return was five behinds. Mason Cox is nothing if not inconsistent, but it’s unlikely Scott will allow the American free space as West Coast did when he kicked three first-quarter goals.
These two have plenty of history and another chapter in a great rivalry is about to be written. Do join me. To get involved, you can email or tweet @scott_heinrich
