Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Geelong have recovered from 39 points down to claim a thrilling 15-point win over a gallant North Melbourne and keep their slim top-four hopes live.
A rampant first quarter, where North kicked seven goals to Geelong’s one, had the Kangaroos daring to dream of an immense upset.
But Geelong kicked into gear with a second-quarter blitz of nine goals, taking the lead by halftime, then coming out on top in a scintillating 19.11 (125) to 17.8 (110) shootout.
With victory in front of 35,329 fans at Marvel Stadium, Geelong (56 points) remain in the top six and in touch with the top four ahead of hosting lowly Richmond.
The loss officially ends North’s faint wildcard hopes as the Kangaroos can no longer catch 10th-placed Carlton, meaning they will finish their season against Sydney.
North’s day got harder when star Harry Sheezel was ruled out just before halftime with a left cheekbone injury suffered in a head clash with Oisin Mullin.
Tristan Xerri (11 clearances, 28 hitouts, 17 disposals) dominated early then was reined in by the excellent Mark Blicavs (three goals, 18 disposals, 17 hitouts) with help from Mitch Edwards (23 hitouts, two goals).
North midfielder Finn O’Sullivan (25 touches) was everywhere along with Jy Simpkin (26 disposals, two goals), while George Wardlaw’s attack on the ball inspired.
Nick Larkey (five goals), Jack Darling (four goals) and Cooper Trembath (three goals) had pivotal moments.
Cat Ollie Dempsey took a pivotal contested mark and goaled to help seal victory late and had 24 disposals and 10 score involvements.
Bailey Smith (34 disposals) and Tanner Bruhn (28) were busy while Jay Polkinghorne (three goals), Shaun Mannagh (three goals, 20 touches), Shannon Neale (two) and Patrick Dangerfield (two) hit the scoreboard.
Geelong have been adamant their concussion saga hasn’t taken a toll on the players.
But the Cats were flat early and struggled to meet North’s early intensity around the stoppages and speed on the outside.
Led by Xerri and O’Sullivan, North smashed Geelong in the clearances 22-5 in the opening term and led by 38 at quarter-time.
Trembath missed a chance to extend North’s lead at the start of the second term.
Edwards’ first kickstarted Geelong’s response as Blicavs’ move into the ruck kept Xerri accountable and their midfield stepped up.
Geelong reeled off six goals on the spin, with Brad Close delivering the lead for the first time late in the second term.
The Cats led by 15 in the third quarter but Trembath turned the game on its head with three straight goals to put North in front at three-quarter time.
Geelong snatched a 16-point early in the final term – then North almost reeled them back in again before the Cats composed themselves late.
Young Cat Oli Wiltshire sat out the second half while James Worpel also came off late.
