The Sydney Swans have outlasted the Geelong Cats at the SCG on Saturday night, running away with the round 7 clash 18.12.120 – 10.11.71.
The Cats could not afford any setbacks after a stuttering start to the 2015 season. Currently sitting in 12th on the ladder, the loss Tom Hawkins through a sore glute was a huge blow moments before the match for the Cats.
A physical and combative first quarter saw both sides kick 4 goals a piece and the Cats up by 1 point. The Swans lead the league in hit-outs (53.3 per game), but were kept honest in the first quarter. The hard-tagging Geelong side were quick with the hands and around the ground, limiting Sydney to 11 tackles.
The second quarter got off to a cracking start for the Cats, kicking two goals in the opening 4 minutes. Both goals were assisted by penalties that put Selwood and Thurlow a stones throw from the sticks. Luke Parker kept the Swans in contact with a beautifully stuck set shot from 53 metres. The goals had Sydney 7 points behind with 15 minutes remaining in the quarter.
The Cats had a bit of luck with some contentious refereeing decisions, but were playing the harder and faster footy. Mitch Duncan continued his sparkling form of late leading all Cats with 11 disposals, four contested possessions, three inside 50s and a clearance.
A piece of ‘Buddy’ magic from Lance Franklin helped the home side to a much needed major against the run of play. The strong forward muscled the defender to allow a Ben McGlynn kick to dribble towards the goal before scraping a toe over the ball to claim his second goal.
Both teams traded goals for the remainder of the quarter, adding another 9 collectively. Geelong held their lead with 17 inside 50s and 64% of possession in the attacking half. The Cats kicked the last goal of the quarter (Gregson) for a 8.4.52 – 9.7.61 halftime lead.
Jarrad McVeigh celebrated his 250th game in front of an appreciative home crowd. The veteran would have been impressed with Kieran Jack’s effort to open the second half. Jack’s bombing goal brought the Swans back within three points and had the players buzzing.
Swan Mike Pyke is third in the league averaging 34.2 hit-outs per game. Early in the third quarter Pike looked destined to surpass his average with 27. The Swans were gaining momentum, kicking three in a row and out to a 10-point lead with 12 minutes remaining in the quarter.
Josh Kennedy and Joel Selwood lead their teams in contested possessions. Both had 10 by the end of the third quarter. In a low scoring quarter the Swans chiselled out a 5-point lead. Luke Parker was a stand-out for the Swans after kicking his 4th goal and equally his personal best career tally.
Three goals in 5 minutes to the Swans stamped their dominance on the match with a 24 point lead. Franklin kicked two opportunistic majors while the milestone man McVeigh nabbed a goal after it was touched just beyond the goal line. Luke Parker finished with a career high 5 goals as the Swans rubbed the Cats nose in it late on.
A single-goal final term for the Geelong Cats was a disappointing way to leave the contest in what was a hard fought three quarters. Steve Johnson’s goal late in the third quarter was the last for a team that missed the presence of their key forward in Hawkins.
“We wanted to play to our trademark, play the full four quarters,” commented man of the match Luke Parker.
“We were able to put the foot down and get the win.”
Parker finished with 750 metres gained, 5 tackles, 31 disposals and a career best 5 goals. Lance Franklin kicked 5 goals 4 with some momentum late in the match. Sydney face premiers Hawthorn at the MCG next week.
