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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Adam Collins

Geelong Cats beat Sydney Swans: AFL second semi-final – as it happened

Patrick Dangerfield of the Cats
Patrick Dangerfield of the Cats in action during the first half of the second semi-final against the Swans at MCG. Photograph: Julian Smith/AAP

Full-time: Geelong 15.8.98 v Sydney 5.9.39

What a performance. Defying the expectations of even their most passionate advocates, Geelong have made their way to the preliminary final. Their eighth time to the final four in 11 years. Sydney won 15 of 17, but couldn’t make that 16. They were as bad as Geelong good.

Six goals to one in an electric second quarter was enough to make the result a formality, confirmed with a further four majors in the third. Dangerfield’s four goals from the square in the first half will dominate the coverage. Brilliant move to pop him down there and he delivered in style when the game was on. Motlop was the talisman after half-time, lightning up the ‘G and burying the Swans.

Danger is now on the telly now being interviewed, saying not a lot. But he needn’t for his work is done. “A stepping stone,” to something bigger, he suggests. Speaking of the post-game action on the park, Jarrad McVeigh is being chaired off through a guard of honour following his 300th game.

Sydney, Sydney, Sydney. What happened there? Harry Taylor found out at lunchtime that Tom Lonergan was out crook. The superstar Swan had a shocker, failing to kick a goal and turning the ball over with almost every (rare) touch. The lowest score from the Swans since 1997 (!). Says it all.

What a turnaround from Geelong. To Adelaide they go. And with that, I’ll say goodnight. Thanks for your company. We’ll be back with the other semi, and all the best action from around the country, on sportwatch tomorrow.

Here’s tonight’s match report:

Updated

4th quarter, 2.00 left: Geelong 15.8.98 v Sydney 5.9.39

Oh, hasn’t had a look all night really. But Hawkins has draaaaaained one from 50m where the arc meets the boundary. Drop punt, inswing like Waqar Younis. His 50th major of season 2018. “This has been their best finals win since the 2011 Grand Final,” says Bruce of Geelong. “Their most commanding performance since.”

Not pretty. Menegola, who has had a cracking night, picks out Stanley on the lead. Gorgeous footy. But then the Geelong no. 1 - who came into the side tonight for Lonergan - sprays the set shot badly. That’ll annoy him, knowng Lonergan is a certainty to come back next week. All told, a good problem to have.

That feeling. “I know it’s over,” says Cameron Ling of how Sydney are going about it now, the game reduced to a glorified kick-to-kick. No. Second. Invitation. Required.

Just what Moz was thinking about when he wrote it.

Speaking of injuries. Tom Stewart is still sitting there looking a bit rough on the bench. Did his left pinger in the third term. Put in a mighty effort in the middle of the Geelong surge in the second quarter, executing a multi-part tackle. Acts like Stewart’s, alongside magic from Dangerfield and Lotlop, made Geelong’s night when it mattered most.

4th quarter, 12.20 left: Geelong 14.4.89 v Sydney 5.9.39

Well, it is not for nothing but it is not for much. Mills is there for Sydney to snaffle a tricky one off the ground. I remember Dermott Brereton once saying that as a park footballer the only time you could run out and compete is late in a final. Specifically, in a final term where a team has been thrashed, on the way to certain elimination. There is a bit of that here. No risk of injury for Geelong now. Sydney one foot on the plane.

4th quarter, 18.20 left: Geelong 14.4.88 v Sydney 4.9.33

Blicavs gets the first, pushing the lead into the 50s. Too easy. 55,555 the alleged attendance at the ‘G. I say alleged... surely someone at MCC HQ having a bit of a tweak there to get a quirky news line up? Fair play to them. Bit like the 2008 Grand Final with 100,008 there. Yeaaaah, sure.

More Buddy. “Never played a worse final has Buddy,” emails Richard Charles. “Thankfully in a Sydney jumper. No flag for Him. Beat it Sydney.” Can never remember the great man stinking it up in September at all, let alone like this.

Off to Adelaide for Geelong. Tom Stewart has gone off with a left hammy problem and won’t be back tonight. In other news, seems the TV commentary team have realised only tonight that professional sportspeople drink pickle juice. Keep up, gents.

Siren. We’re away in the final term.

Updated

Three-quarter time: Geelong 13.4.82 v Sydney 4.9.33

Another goal on the cusp of the siren to finish off their term and push the lead back to 49 points as they stop for an orange. Menegola, who has been excellent, on the end of it. That’ll do nicely. Four goal to one quarter for the Cats. Dangerfield out of the game, but enter Motlop. One himself, set up a couple. Outstanding. After winning 15 of their last 17, Sydney have 30 minutes to go in their season. Who saw this coming?

3rd quarter, 1.00 left: Geelong 12.4.76 v Sydney 4.9.33

Sting completely out of this game. A quarter to go before Buddy has managed to do something helpful for his side, picking out Papley with a bullet pass. He kicks the set shot. Point made by the commentary team that Franklin has had quite a bit of it in this third term. But he’s having a shocker.

Buddy. Having a nightmare. Another set shot. “He’s gotta miss it,” predicts Bruce. He does. How about this...

3rd quarter, 7.00 left: Geelong 12.4.76 v Sydney 3.9.27

Game over! Menzel has popped the goal through from point-blank-range, but it is Motlop again who made it happen with a relentless three-effort tackle. Once the Swans lost the ball, the goal was all but assured. He plays on to snap it through.

Updated

There weren’t many... but they did happen when he was a Hawk as well.

You cannot have a bad night when you finish outside the top four. Cameron Ling’s observation, not mine. But he’s bang on. Buddy gathers on the wing, but cannot run as he’s taken it with flat feet. Turns it over to a waiting Geelong defender. Sums up their night. Nothing going right. The TV commentary have started their post-mortem on the Sydney season. Motlop up the other end nearly jags another screamer from 45m, but a banana doesn’t have the legs. And again Buddy responsible for a loose turnover the next time Sydney surge. Grim footy.

This hurts.

https://twitter.com/SENfooty/status/908653951486009345

Updated

3rd quarter, 14.00 left: Geelong 11.4.70 v Sydney 3.8.26

Goal of the night! Beautiful string of handballs across half-forward, Guthrie involved with the final one, over to Motlop who executes the perfect snap over his left shoulder, sneaking over the pack and just inside the post. 45 points the margin, this is sure over. Super footy.



Updated

Post again! Sydney’ second into the woodwork tonight. Score review confirms that McVeigh hasn’t quite split the big ones with a banana. Buddy gets another set shot that he cannot convert. Kicks from just inside the arc, but it fades. They need all of these to fall their way. Instead, alongside a couple of rushed behinds, it’s four consecutive minor scores for the Swans.

3rd quarter, 19.00 left: Geelong 10.4.64 v Sydney 3.4.22

Juggling, composed mark Menzel. Lovely, swinging set shot from 50. Oh yes, the Cat Attack continues! “In the context of this game that is enormous,” observes BT. Not wrong. It’s taken just over a minute to get them on the board again. The lead out to an even seven goals. The biggest semi-final comeback ever was 37-points in 1933! That was also the Swans. Thanks, Bruce. Bet he knew that off the top of his head. He adds what I was about to say: 42 points the lead Adelaide had over the Baby Bombers Mk II in 1993’s first semi-final before that went wild.

Updated

Siren! The second half. It is here. Can Geelong hold on?

Half-time: Geelong 9.4.58 v Sydney 3.4.22

Wow. There is only one story from the MCG: Patrick Dangerfield. What a masterstroke sending him to the square. This is Leigh Matthews from the 1985 Prelim stuff. More contested possessions than anyone on the field. Four majors from his seven shots on goal. Sure, some luck along the way, but clever to create the final of those free kicks. Had a chance to pop Geelong out to a seven-goal lead as well before Sydney got their steadier. Freeeeeak.

The hosts have 20 more contested possessions, which won’t be lost upon the Sydney coaching staff at the break. Nor will Buddy’s sub-par opening half, three kicks for one behind so far. That shot would have put Sydney back to four goals behind with two majors inside 45 seconds. Instead, down the other end Danger, of course, to make it seven of the last eight in the half. Sydney in big, big trouble.

Was saving this for half-time.



2nd quarter, 3.00 left: Geelong 9.4.58 v Sydney 3.4.22

“Danger, Danger! High voltage! When we touch... when we kiss!” Four goals in the opening half! Seven shots on goal from the square. What an individual hand. What a great decision to send a champion down to bolster a the hapless forward line of last weekend. The set shot made from a tight angle 30m out after another clutch grab.



Oi, Frankie. Expectations are such that when he’s having a pop from 55m that he’ll drain it. He doesn’t here, dragging it to the near side. Would have made two in 45 seconds for the Swans leading into the long break. “At least he’s had a couple of shots on goal now” the take of Bruce. Fair. Will need to have a massive second half to keep Sydney’s season alive.

2nd quarter, 3.00 left: Geelong 8.4.52 v Sydney 3.3.21

Big play from the 300-gamer, Jarrad McVeigh dragging one back with a set shot from 50m. “Some players in this moment want the ball in their hands,” Carey’s response on the telly.



Turn up the volume! Tom Stewart a superb tackle of Parker on the outer wing and the response from the Geelong fans in the Great Southern Stand is immense. Symbolic of the quarter. Danger gets it again inside range, but misses. Oh, should have done better. How’s he getting a loose ball inside the arc at this stage? Maybe what Sydney really need now is the siren more than a shot on goal.

2nd quarter, 6:00 left: Geelong 8.3.51 v Sydney 2.3.15

Make that a six goal lead! Zac Smith! Third man up, flying across the pack to take the contested mark. Another aerial effort from the Cats down that way. Slots it through with composure from 25m. Next goal vital for Sydney. Have to take something from this quarter. Running out of time.



2nd quarter, 8:00 left: Geelong 7.3.45 v Sydney 2.3.15

Motlop fantastic from half-back, a driving kick between the arcs setting up a forward entry, Hawkins hands to Duncan who kicks another! Geelong on fire! Five on the spin for the Cats. Lead is five straight kicks. “There’s a little of the 2014 Grand Final here,” observes Bruce. Big call, but not far from the mark. Sydney drowning.

Nearly! Buddy from 53 has his first shot at goal. It doesn’t quite get there, a snap from the Hewett just missing. Down the other end it is DANGER AGAIN! He’s giving Rampe a bath! Fantastic, clever grab. But he misses the set shot. Game not far from really breaking open here.

2nd quarter, 12:00 left: Geelong 6.2.38 v Sydney 2.2.14

Look out, internet! Dangerfield has another through a free kick against Rampe. He pops it through from 20m. The superstar has three. The violation was for a push in the back. Carey notes how clever Danger was to pull the tacklers’ arms with him after hitting the ground, to make it look bad as possible. “He got sucked in,” he adds of the umpire. Geelong four goals up! And all of a sudden, Sydney need a steadier. And they need Buddy.



2nd quarter, 13:00 left: Geelong 5.2.32 v Sydney 2.2.14

Stanley! Into the side for defender Lonergan at the last moment, now inside the forward 50 and taking a towering grab 20m out. Menzel’s delivery was spot on, and had to be with two defenders hanging off the Cat. The kick on goal isn’t the most compelling but it has snuck through. Geelong move to a three goal advantage. “Sydney are struggling,” says Bruce. “And we haven’t said that in a long while.”

2nd quarter, 16:30 left: Geelong 4.2.26 v Sydney 2.2.14

50 metres! Duncan has been taken all of 60 though, and kicks truly from 30m. It’s Buddy’s first influence on this game, for all the wrong reasons. It’s a technical one. Franklin stood on the side of the mark rather than directly behind it, prompting the umpire to blow his whistle and bring Duncan forward. Geelong’s lead ot to a couple of goals.



Nearly brilliant from Dangerfield. Rapid exchange of handballs across half-forward, helped along by the steady head of Mackie. Lands with Danger, who snaps from the impossible angle and just misses. Shots from John Longmire at the break giving his Sydney charges a real spray. Old school.


I said no major stats... but TV tells us that Geelong haven’t lost a game when leading at quarter-time this season, 1o-and-zip from here. Bruce adds that they haven’t lost a match leading at any change in the season. Handy.

Quarter-time: Geelong 3.1.19 v Sydney 2.2.14

Cats close it down the term. Sydney twice come forward to have the surge stopped at the traditional CHF position. Taylor takes a strong mark, highlighting that his direct opponent Franklin hasn’t had a sniff in the opening stanza. Siren. Geelong will go into the break very happy with their early work. Dangerfield benefitted from some generous officiating, but two goals in the book to him after starting at full-forward the difference between the sides at the first change.

Not a lot to draw from the stats, much the same for both sides in the usual catagories. Kieran Jack has had it ten times though, kicking a goal himself along the way with a savvy bit of footwork close to the line. By finals standards, a relatively quiet start. Both sides know what they are doing.

Updated

Post! Newman from long range hits the top of the post, our first behind after five straight on the night. A second minor score for the Swans comes via Parker, who misses from 45m. He kicked through a chorus of boos, winning the shot after the Geelong defender Lachie Henderson was penalised for deliberate. But, it happened in the act of spoiling. Come on, get serious. The Cats by four points with a couple of minutes to go in the term.


1st quarter, 8:20 left: Geelong 3.0.18 v Sydney 2.0.6

Menegola! The well-named cat marks inside 50 under no pressure at all. Turns around and keeps the clean sheet for both sides, splitting the middle.


Booooo! The Swans don’t like it when Dangerfield gets another free kick well inside range. Oh, that’s a shocker. Rampe barely touches his shoulder from behind. Had the rule been interpreted that way once upon a time, Jason Dunstall and Tony Lockett would have kicked 2000 each. Anyway, he misses! Out on the full. And the Sydney players race up to tell him all about it. That I like.

1st quarter, 11:00 left: Geelong 2.0.12 v Sydney 2.0.6

“Jack in the box!” says Bruce, with Kieran Jack having the nous to get his left boot to a ball off the ground from the goalsqure. He soccers straight and the Swans have their second. Carey says the defenders panicked as the ball slipped through the net. Goodness me, Sydney supporters singing ‘Ole, ole, ole, ole... Sydney, Sydney.’ No. Don’t do that.

Steady start. Geelong haven’t been blown away as they were the last couple of times these teams met. Doesn’t feel like a final quite yet. Both sides working into it, not many risks taken. So many experienced players out there, they know the drill.

1st quarter, 15:30 left: Geelong 2.0.0 v Sydney 1.0.6

Danger again! Infringed from the marking contest at the very place he grabbed and goaled a moment before. He ran around and snapped a behind, but the ball was brought back to allow him to take a shot. He makes no mistake from 20m.

1st quarter, 17:20 left: Geelong 1.0.0 v Sydney 1.0.6

Straight down the other end and Dangerfield, who has started forward tonight, marks over Rampe. Response within a minute. Wet all day, but no effect on the game so far. Some strong early grabs.

Updated

1st quarter, 18.30 left: Geelong 0.0.0 v Sydney 1.0.6

Papley perfect in traffic, getting free from the contest and chipping over the top to Reid who takes the grab running back and converts the set shot from 25m. They’re away.

Anthem! Craig Willis welcomes us formally to the MCG. That’s how you know it is a big deal. Do we have a live singer? Nup, it is play on the Julie Anthony tape. But no complaints. Moments like this I miss not being there in standing room watching Hawthorn go around. I know, I shouldn’t complain. But roaring over those last few bars? Phwoaaaar.

Toss. “What have we got? A dollar coin?” asks the umpire. Odd. Geelong to kick to the City End, Sydney to the Punt Road goals. Nearly there now!

Cheer, cheer the red and the white! Out come Sydney. McVeigh has his daughter in his arms as they run through the banner.

Ground looks fantastic given the torrential rain in Melbourne earlier today. Gone the days of the late-season bog.

Welcome to Geelong vs Sydney at the MCG!

Huge night at the People’s Ground and I have some BIG news with you off the top. Tom Lonergan, Geelong’s champion defender is out. Retiring at season’s end, he may have played his final game, withdrawn with food poisoning. But the more immediate issue here is the fantastic record he has playing on Lance Franklin, keeping him to under a couple of goals a game in their stoushes over the better part of a decade. Wow.

As for food poisoning?! What happened to fish and chips the night before a game like KB in his pomp? Or a big bowl of pasta like every 1990s gun? Some questions to be asked of this at Corio Bay if it all doesn’t go to plan over the next few hours and the Cats are bundled out in straight sets for the second time in the space of four years.

It would also make their eighth loss in the space of ten finals, the side that finished second at the end of regular season walking into Tiger Time at the ‘G last weekend now requiring this double chance for progress to Adelaide next weekend. On the evidence of that performance, and Sydney’s remarkable streak of 15 wins in their last 17 games since sitting last in April, they look shot. But you don’t write champion teams off for a reason.

Sydney did as they pleased last week at home, knocking off Essendon by 13 goals in their elimination final. Buddy had a bung leg early on, but when he got into the zone was unstoppable, as he has been for the bulk of the season. Harry Taylor now has the job on him, another man with vast experience but someone the Cats wanted to play up forward tonight.

Daniel Menzel is also back for them, Rhys Stanley is the late inclusion for Lonergan and Cam Guthrie will be there as well to give the midfield some badly-needed grunt.

Sydney also have form on their side against the Cats, accounting for them four of the last five times they met, including a thrashing at Kardinia Park in round 20. Then, Sydney piled on seven goals in the first term. Much as it was in last year’s Preliminary Final, when the Swans raced out of the blocks. You get the feeling if that repeats here again tonight, especially in the soggy conditions, it could be messy. Jarrad McVeigh’s 300th tonight too, I should add. They love him in Sydney.

Both sides love the scrap, shown in their contested possession rankings. Sydney’s corresponding semi-final victory last season against Adelaide was just that. A true bone-crunching affair. For those at home on the couch, let’s hope for something equally as compelling tonight.

Righto, we’re about 15 minutes away from the bounce. Strap in, this should be fun. Let’s chat throughout? On the email, on the twitter. I can’t wait.

Adam will be along shortly. In the meantime, have a read of this beautiful story, about a pair of inseparable young Swans fans. Just make sure you have a box of tissues at the ready.

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