Cats secure top four spot with come from behind win against Swans

Sydney Swans v Geelong Cats; AFL 2020 round 18 match review Ben Jensen GEELONG trailed for most of the game but defeated the Sydney Swans by six points securing fourth position in the ladder and a ‘double chance’ in the finals. The Swans had the jump on the Cats kicking the first three games of the match, and took a nine point lead into quarter time. In the forgettable second quarter neither side managed a goal, the Swans extending their lead to eleven points at half time.

The Cats outscored the Swans in the third quarter and trailed by just two points at three quarter time, and could have been ahead had Patrick Dangerfield kicked a goal instead of a behind from a difficult shot on the siren. It was Dangerfield who led the Cats to victory in the last kicking two goals in the first six minutes. Geelong had the momentum and looked like they may blow the match right open but the Swans fought back, Tom Papley kicking his second (to go with five behinds) midway through the term.

With little over two minutes to go Gryan Miers had a set shot 35m from goal but didn’t register a score; Justin McInerney punishing the Cats with a goal of his own, the margin now just six points. Tense moments followed with the ball inside the Swans’ forward fifty with seconds left on the clock but the Cats defenders rebounded the ball, the siren sounding, the Cats securing fourth spot. Tom Hawkins’ two goals also sewed up his first ever Coleman Medal, winning the AFL goalkicking.

Finals fixtures are expected to be announced after Port Adelaide and Collingwood play on Monday night. If Port Adelaide win they’ll go to top spot and play the Cats; should Port lose Geelong will play Brisbane.

AFL 2020 – ROUND 18
SYDNEY SWANS V GEELONG CATS
SUNDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2020, 15:35
METRICON STADIUM, GOLD COAST
MATCH PREVIEW

GEELONG 4.1, 4.3, 7.7, 10.9 (69) defeated
SYDNEY SWANS 5.4, 5.8, 7.9, 9.9 (63)

GOALS
GEELONG CATS: Dangerfield 3, Hawkins 2, Parfitt 2, Ablett, Guthrie, Tuohy
SYDNEY SWANS: McInerney 2, Papley 2, Aliir, Blakey, Dawson, Kennedy, Reid

BEST
GEELONG CATS: Menegola, Dangerfield, Guthrie, Stewart, Tuohy
SYDNEY SWANS: Kennedy, Dawson, Papley, Mills, Parker, Lloyd

INJURIES
GEELONG CATS: Nil reported
SYDNEY SWANS: Bell (concussion)

CHANGES
GEELONG CATS: Nil
SYDNEY SWANS: Nil

REPORTS
GEELONG CATS: Nil
SYDNEY SWANS: Nil

CROWD: TBC at Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast

GEELONG CATS – SELECTED SIDE
IN: Gary Ablett, Gary Rohan, Joel Selwood, Jack Steven
OUT: Tom Atkins (General Soreness), Lachie Fogarty, Brad Close, Ben Jarvis (all omitted)
B: Jed Bews, Harry Taylor, Jake Kolodjashnij
HB: Jack Henry, Mark Blicavs, Tom Stewart
C: Zach Tuohy, Joel Selwood, Sam Menegola
HF: Luke Dahlhaus, Gary Rohan, Jack Steven
F: Mark O’Connor, Tom Hawkins, Gary Ablett
FOLL: Esava Ratugolea, Patrick Dangerfield, Brandan Parfitt
INT: Lachie Henderson, Mitch Duncan, Gryan Miers, Cam Guthrie
EMER: Brad Close, Lachie Fogarty, Zach Guthrie, Josh Jenkins

SYDNEY SWANS – SELECTED SIDE
IN: J.Rowbottom, C.Sinclair, J.Dawson
OUT: S.Wicks (omitted), L.Taylor (foot), J.Amartey (ankle)
B: C.Mills, A.Aliir, H.Cunningham
HB: J.Thurlow, L.Melican, J.Lloyd
C: D.Stephens, J.Kennedy, N.Blakey
HF: J.McInerney, S.Reid, W.Hayward
F: Bell, T.McCartin, J.Rowbottom
FOLL: C.Sinclair, LParker, T.Papley
INT: O.Florent, J.Dawson, R.Clarke, R.Fox
EMER: M.Ling, C.O’Riordan, Z.Foot, S.Wicks

UMPIRES
FIELD: Chris Donlon, Nick Brown, Brett Rosebury EM: Andre Gianfagna
BOUNDARY: Peter Bock, Sam Stagg, Patrick Jackson, Michael Saunders
GOAL: David Rodan, Brett Rogers EM: Brodie Kenny-Bell