Gary Rohan has helped reignite Geelong’s AFL premiership defence with three targets in a gritty 15-point win over Melbourne after unintentionally knocking out teammate Jeremy Cameron.
Rohan’s sickening first-quarter collision with Cameron led to the Cats’ main goalkicker being stretchered off the bottom and brought to hospital.
However with Rohan shining in assault and the Cats’ backline resolute, Geelong overcame the numerous setback to submit a stirring 11.12 (78) to eight.15 (63) win at GMHBA Stadium.
It got here on the again of a surprising six-goal burst within the closing time period, marking twin premiership coach Chris Scott’s three hundredth recreation on the helm in type.
The end result balanced Geelong’s season report at 7-7 in a 12 months when their resolve has been often examined.
The Cats have been out-muscled at stoppages, shedding the clearance battle 47-35 as Demons midfielders Christian Petracca (33 disposals, 10 clearances) and Jack Viney (25, six) starred.
However Mitch Duncan (22 disposals, one purpose), Tanner Bruhn (19, two), Mark Blicavs (19, one), Tom Atkins (19 touches), Brad Shut (24) and Tom Stewart (22) all had an influence, and Geelong ran away with the sport within the closing time period.
Stewart, Zach Guthrie and Jake Kolodjashnij impressed in defence.
The fallout may but worsen for Melbourne (9-5), with main goalkicker Bayley Fritsch to come back beneath scrutiny for a harmful deal with on Kolodjashnij.
A free kick was paid to Kolodjashnij, who was not critically harm within the final-quarter incident.
Cameron’s harm held up play for nearly 10 minutes throughout the opening time period and left Rohan visibly upset as his teammate was assessed by medical workers earlier than being pushed off the sphere.
The goalsneak responded with a team-lifting main earlier than quarter-time, steering the house facet to a nine-point benefit on the first change.
Melbourne additionally suffered an early harm scare when Viney harm his proper shoulder however the robust midfielder quickly returned to the motion.
Joel Smith’s two first-half targets helped the Demons snatch a one-point lead by the primary break.
Rohan’s second purpose briefly put the Cats in entrance within the third time period and so they seized management once more when Henry and Zach Guthrie kicked the primary two majors of the final quarter.
One other purpose to Blicavs, from a sequence that started with Atkins’ stress act on the reverse finish, put the Cats 12 factors up in a low-scoring contest.
And when Rohan beat Steven Might in a one-on-one contest moments later to run into an open purpose – for his third – the Cats have been nearly dwelling.
Rohan acquired a standing ovation as he ran to the bench and Duncan iced the sport with the Cats’ fifth consecutive purpose.
Smith, Fritsch and Kysaiah Pickett completed with two targets every for Melbourne.