The Cats were too good for the Demons scoring a comfortable win at GMHBA Stadium.
The Cats were too good for the Demons scoring a comfortable win at GMHBA Stadium.
Fox Footy commentator Jason Dunstall believes Cats key defender Jack Henry has injured his hamstring.
Henry has been among the Cats’ best tonight but he is cursing his luck as the trainers help him leave the ground.
“He’s done his hammy, he’s in all sorts trying to get off the ground,” Dunstall said.
“I shouldn’t guess but it looks like a hammy.”
The Cats have Mark O’Connor as sub, he’s a key defender so he’ll be ready to take his place.
Jacob van Rooyen has booted a goal for the Demons as Henry was leaving the ground.
They are back in this the Demons.
Cats 37, Dees 20.
At the risk of going early, this has the potential to go pear-shaped for the Dees.
Their effort could not be questioned in the first term, but two goals late in the quarter – including one in the dying seconds – gave the Cats a handy lead at quarter-time.
Max Gawn did not have the best first term. He dropped a straightforward mark on the defensive 50, which led to a shot at goal for the Cats, and then was outworked by Rhys Stanley from the centre bounce, which led to the Geelong big man taking a gutsy mark inside 50.
Melbourne are still struggling to move the ball with any rhythm. The ball spent long periods in the Cats’ forward 50, and they got their rewards late.
Petracca has his second after a mark in the left pocket and an exceptional shot for goal.
The Demons did well to patiently move the ball from half-back and find their superstar.
The Dees have a lot more work to do but they are having a dig.
Cats 37, Dees 14 with 21 mins to go in Q2.
I don’t know what’s been worse – the constantly changing audio levels of Fox Footy’s coverage, or the Dees’ ball use.
I think Fox’s disturbing audio has the edge right now.
The latest Dees error led to a Jack Bowes goal. It was an easy one and now the visitors are in big trouble.
Cats 37, Dees 8 with 14 mins to go in Q2.
Neither side can regularly find marks in their forward 50, but Dangerfield has been powerful in his attack on the ground-ball so far, and it has led to two goals.
On the last play he charged across the face of goal, won the footy and snapped truly. It was almost a mirror image of Petracca’s opening goal.
Dangerfield is having a quick rest now but he is the most dangerous player on the ground so far.
“He’s in a mood,” purred Gerard Whateley on Fox Footy.
Cats 31, Dees 8 with 15 mins to go in Q2.
The Cats made their move late, with goals from Dangerfield and Stanley giving them the lead after wasted chances cost them earlier in the term.
If the Cats can keep creating such high-quality chances as this match goes on, they will be very hard to beat.
Pickett has been super for the Demons so far but Simon Goodwin’s men need to create more scoring chances for Petracca and their other forwards.
Patrick Dangerfield has converted his first clear chance at goal, marking on the right sideline and going back and threading a perfect kick through the goals.
He’s started as a key forward and may well play much of the game there.
Garry Lyon said on Fox Footy that the Cats should have a two-goal lead or better but haven’t taken their chances.
He’s right.
Cats 17, Dees 8 with 50 seconds to go in Q1.
The Cats have lifted their workrate at the contest, and the ball has lived in their forward half of the ground for the best part of the last 10 minutes.
If you take the contested side of the game away from the Demons, what else do they have?
We’re about to find out…
The skills shown by both defences and midfielders have been exceptional in a high-tempo first term.
But the goal kicking has not come to the party for either side so far.
They have one goal each from a combined 15 inside 50s.
Cats 11, Dees 8 with five mins to go in Q1.