The early indicators weren’t nice. Sydney’s trademark strain was there, however the execution was not, and a sequence of miscued kicks urged nerves amongst gamers who had beforehand proven none. The Cats and their hardened stars, in distinction, regarded not simply prepared, however robotic.
After 9 minutes of territorial dominance from Geelong, Tom Hawkins grabbed the sport’s first objective at a throw-in, manhandling Tom Hickey, turfing him out of the way in which, and kicking really. Then Hawkins did the identical factor once more, in the identical place, six minutes later. Sydney’s ‘Ruck Jesus’ was being crucified.
Geelong cruise to an 81-point victory towards the Swans in entrance of 100,024 followers on the MCG.Credit score:Eddie Jim
Will Hayward replied nearly immediately with Sydney’s first, crumbing a pack on a uncommon inside-50 entry. However then Geelong piled on the following 4 in a row. At quarter-time, the Cats had nearly twice as many possessions (113-67) and 11 scoring photographs to at least one.
Tyson Stengle’s sensible set shot blew the deficit out to 40 factors, till a one-handed seize within the goalsquare from Hayden McLean snapped their run, and precipitated a interval through which the Swans, led by Warner, started to show the tables generally play.
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However each time they landed a punch, Geelong smacked them straight again. Either side kicked three objectives apiece within the second stanza, however the Cats really managed to enhance their quarter-time margin by one level, to 36 – so no matter floor Sydney had been making up was not mirrored on the scoreboard.
Sydney wanted a very good begin to the third time period to be any hope. When Tom McCartin was run down for holding the ball by Mitch Duncan proper in entrance of objective, lower than two minutes in, any remaining hope was extinguished. Moments later, McCartin’s kick throughout objective was intercepted by Brad Shut, and he went again and goaled too.
They might as effectively have introduced out the medals then and there.
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