GEELONG has overcome a shocking conversion rate in front of goal to claim an important 12-point win over Sydney at the SCG on Thursday night.
The Cats scored just 3.9 from set shots, but Tim Kelly's brilliant snap with four minutes remaining broke the home side's resistance, Geelong running out 8.23 (71) to 9.5 (59) winners.
The Cats threatened to kick themselves out of the contest during a tense final quarter before Kelly steadied their wobbles, and the unsighted Harry Taylor added the sealer.
The visitors dominated most aspects of the contest, and if not for their horrific finishing, would have given coach Chris Scott a far less stressful night.
Even so, he was understandably rapt with his side's efforts, especially his less experienced players.
"Our guys were good around the ball early," he said.
"There were a few structural shifts from both teams as the game went on and they were a little bit better in the third quarter and really challenged us with the way they set up.
"We thought it wasn’t just our senior players, it was a combination of seasoned players who straightened us up a little bit, plus Tim Kelly around the ball, Quinton Narkle and (Brandan) Parfitt were strong as well."
The loss was Sydney's second in succession and sees it drop to 10-5 for the season, while the Cats (9-6) avenged the Swans' 17-point win at GMHBA Stadium in round six this year.
The result leaves the Swans in danger of dropping out of the top four by the end of the round, the loss compounded by potentially serious injuries to veterans Kieren Jack (left knee) and Jarrad McVeigh (right shoulder).
Mitch Duncan was a consistent performer for the winners with 32 possessions, while Joel Selwood and Kelly were important in the second half, as was power forward Tom Hawkins, who was one of the inaccurate culprits with 2.5.
Jake Lloyd was prolific across half back with a game-high 33 disposals for the Swans, while skipper Josh Kennedy gathered 26 to go with 12 clearances, and Lance Franklin booted four goals in his entertaining battle with Mark Blicavs, but failed to get a kick in the final term, and finished the night stuck on 899 career goals.
The Swans were still in the game until late in the last term but coach John Longmire said that probably flattered his side.
"In the first half we were smashed out of the centre and then it's it a game of transition," he said.
"I think they had 21 scoring shots to five on transition and that’s a bit about how we use the ball, and about how we get organised when we haven't got the ball.
"That’s a big differential with those stats, and I think 8.23 from Geelong probably aided us a bit too."
Patrick Dangerfield was at his bullocking best in the opening term with five clearances but while he continually helped send the Cats forward, the likes of Lloyd (15 possessions), Aliir Aliir and Zak Jones repelled most attacks, while Heath Grundy kept Hawkins stat-less for the quarter.
Neither side kicked a goal until Franklin finally nailed a set shot midway throught the term, and while the returning Dan Robinson snapped a beauty to put Sydney 10 points up, a classy finish from Kelly kept the visitors in touch.
Geelong's centre square dominance continued after the first break when Kelly, Duncan and Selwood – despite the tag of George Hewett – saw them put the Swans defence under constant pressure, with Longmire's men unable to get the footy into their own forward 50.
Majors to Hawkins, Quinton Narkle and Lachie Fogarty helped the Cats to a 21-point lead at one stage, but their finishing (3.7) let them down for the quarter, and Franklin answered again late to reduce the deficit to 15 points at half-time.
That wayward conversion looked like coming back to hurt Geelong when the Swans' inside midfielders got going in the third term, and with Callum Sinclair influential in the ruck, Kennedy (nine touches and seven clearances for the term) stepped up his impact in stunning fashion.
With his supply increased, Franklin stamped his authority with two goals in eight minutes, and when his young offsider Tom McCartin clunked one inside 50 and kicked truly, the Swans were in front.
A second for Hawkins handed the advatange back to Geelong, but a long-range reply from Luke Parker closed the gap again, and the scores were level at three-quarter-time.
Dangerfield kicked a crucial early goal from a free kick to give the Cats momentum just minutes into the last quarter but two bad misses from Hawkins, and another from Jamaine Jones, let the Swans in, and Oliver Florent converted to get the home side within two points.
Hawkins then sprayed another set shot from dead in front before first-year star Kelly missed a snap, but he made up for it with an outstanding finish less than a minute later to put the Cats 12 points up. Taylor sealed the win when he repeated the dose.
MEDICAL ROOM
Sydney: Kieren Jack hurt his left knee in the opening term and despite getting strapped up and testing it out, took no further part in the game. Jarrad McVeigh landed heavily on his right shoulder late in the game and was in a lot of pain with what looked like an injury to his collarbone. Dan Hannebery hurt his calf early in the game and could be in doubt for next week.
Geelong: The Cats looked to have got through without any issues.
NEXT UP
The Swans have a 10-day break before they front up at Etihad Stadium to take on North Melbourne next Sunday afternoon, while the Cats have another Thursday night road trip, this time against the Crows in Adelaide.
SYDNEY 2.2 3.2 7.4 9.5 (59)
GEELONG 1.4 4.11 5.16 8.23 (71)
GOALS
Sydney: Franklin 4, Parker 2, Robinson, McCartin, Florent
Geelong: Hawkins 2, Kelly 2, Narkle, Fogarty, Dangerfield, Taylor
BEST
Sydney: Parker, Lloyd, Aliir, Franklin, Kennedy, Sinclair
Geelong: Duncan, Kelly, Menegola, Hawkins, J. Selwood, Stewart
INJURIES
Sydney: Jack (left knee), McVeigh (right collarbone), Hannebery (calf)
Geelong: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Mollison, Stephens, Stevic
Official crowd: 34,363 at the SCG
