The VFL Cats put together a spirited performance at GMHBA Stadium but it wasn’t quite enough, falling to an experienced North Melbourne outfit by 43-points on Sunday night.
Despite facing an opposition with over 700-games of AFL experience, the Cats stuck with North Melbourne for much of the contest, trailing by just three-points at the final break before fading late in the final term.
Sam Menegola continues to strengthen his game on return from injury, picking up 20-disposals and laying seven-tackles in a positive display for Geelong.
VFL Match Centre: Geelong vs North Melbourne
The Cats started brightly in the first quarter, stemming North Melbourne’s early momentum and kicking some goals of their own to trail by just eight-points at the first break.
Brandon Parfitt opened the Cats account early in the first term, pouncing on a stoppage deep inside forward-50 to soccer home Geelong’s opening goal.
Mitch Chafer won a crucial one-one one deep in attack to kick the Cats’ second, before Jamie Quick added Geelong’s third goal to cut the margin just before quarter time.
Dan Capiron was crucial across half-back early, taking numerous intercept marks to stem North Melbourne’s momentum while Mitch Knevitt picked up three clearances through the midfield.
Geelong withstood a barrage from North Melbourne early in the second quarter, before Jamie Quick again found the big sticks with a classy left-foot snap midway through the term.
Mitch Knevitt then curled home his first goal from the forward pocket, before Brayden Ham converted a set-shot deep in the quarter, cutting the margin back to just 11-points at the main break.
Knevitt was important through the middle early, collecting 11-disposals and five-tackles to go with his goal.
Phoenix Foster looked to be settling nicely into his new role down back, collecting 10-disposals in the opening half while Brandon Parfitt laid six-tackles to go alongside his goal.
Marcus Herbert put together an impressive opening half with 13-disposals, five tackles and three clearances in his return to the Cats VFL team.
The third quarter turned into an arm-wrestle, with neither side able to break away on the scoreboard.
Jye Chalcraft found Shannon Neale with a scintillating pass inside-50, before Neale went back and slotted the Cats first goal of the second half midway through the term.
Neale was then on the end of some more silver-service, this time from Mitch Hardie as the big forward went back and kicked his second in quick succession to cut the deficit to three-points.
Unfortunately, Geelong were unable to continue their momentum in the final quarter as North Melbourne piled on five unanswered goals to push the game out of reach.
Brayden Ham slotted his second of the contest late in the last term, but it was too little too late for the Cats as the Kangaroos ran out 43-point winners.
Marcus Herbert posted a strong performance with 24-disposals and five tackles, while Jye Chalcraft put together another solid game with 23-disposals and eight-clearances of his own.
The Cats will be back in action next Sunday, with a vital clash against Essendon at GMHBA Stadium.
VFL Round 16
GEELONG 3.0 6.1 8.4 9.4 (58)
NORTH MELB 4.2 7.6 8.7 15.11 (101)
GOALS: Quick, Neale, Ham 2, Parfitt, Chafer, Knevitt 1
DISPOSALS: Herbert 24, Chalcraft 23, Menegola 20, Capiron 19, Knevitt, Clohesy 18
