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Posted:
2024-03-16 02:29:28
Original link:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-16/afl-round-one-saturday-live-blog-ess-haw-gws-nm-gee-stk-gc-ade/103596204
Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield has kicked a long-range goal in the final minute to lift the inaccurate Cats to a tense eight-point win over St Kilda in their AFL season opener.
In Geelong, on a night where the Cats unveiled the Joel Selwood stand and Jeremy Cameron kicked one of the early goals of the season from the boundary, the home side withstood a late surge from the Saints to win by eight points.
In the other tight finish of the night, the Suns took their season to two wins from two games with a heart-stopping victory at Carrara.
Gold Coast kicked five goals to one to half-time in difficult conditions, but Matthew Nicks' team found their feet in the second half, kicking the last five goals of the game to go down by just six points.
Earlier, Jesse Hogan kicked six in a GWS win over North Melbourne, while the Bombers got over the line against Hawthorn in the last quarter.
At Kardinia Park, three quick Saints goals in time-on had cut the margin to one point with time left to complete an incredible comeback.
But Geelong won the next centre clearance to gain field position, and Dangerfield intercepted a hurried St Kilda defensive clearance on the 50-metre line.
The Cats champion held his nerve to seal the 10.16 (76) to 9.14 (68) victory in front of a record 39,352 fans in Geelong.
Dangerfield (25 disposals, eight clearances) was hugely influential, supported well by Tanner Bruhn (20, six) and Max Holmes, who finished with 24 touches and 683 metres gained.
Jeremy Cameron dazzled with two brilliant first-half goals and young forward Ollie Dempsey shone with three goals and nine score involvements.
Cameron produced a goal of the year contender in the first quarter when he pounced on a loose ball and burst through congestion on the wing, chipped a kick forward to Brad Close, ran on to receive a return handpass and kicked truly on the run near the boundary line.
Cameron leapt onto the fence and pumped his fist to the adoring home crowd in celebration.
St Kilda were gallant but slumped to a 12th straight loss in Geelong, where they haven't won since 1999.
Saints captain Jack Steele (25 disposals, nine clearances) fought hard in a losing cause and Tim Membrey kicked three goals in his first game since his shock late withdrawal from an elimination final last September because of a personal health matter.
Highly rated teenager Darcy Wilson kicked two goals on debut.
Meanwhile, Gold Coast survived Adelaide's final-quarter flurry, the Crows kicking the last five goals but falling six points short of a Suns robbery.
The Suns moved to 2-0 under new coach Damien Hardwick but did it the hard way, up by 36 and keeping the Crows to just eight at half-time before prevailing 8.12 (60) to 8.6 (54).
The Crows looked shot and out of options early in the fourth quarter, but Matthew Nicks' men surged behind Josh Rachele (three goals) and former Sun Izak Rankine (two).
Rankine ran into an open goal and the lead was just eight with more than three minutes on the clock.
They squeezed out two behinds to create a manic final 75 seconds, the Crows missing two marking opportunities before Matt Rowell's decisive clearing kick killed the contest.
Look back at how the action unfolded in our blog.
That's where we'll leave it
Well, the late games had the close ones, but we had plenty of interesting stories on a big day of footy.
The Bombers got off to a winning start over the Hawks, the Kangaroos had plenty of moments to give their fans hope but in the end the Giants had too much class and firepower.
Tonight Ollie Dempsey announced himself as a rising star for the Cats, and the old firm of Cameron and Dangerfield got the job done in a tight one against the Saints. And the Suns got over the line, just!
We'll be back tomorrow with all the action starting with Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs and ending with Fremantle versus Brisbane in the west on Sunday night, with Port Adelaide - West Coast in the middle.
Join us then, but for now from me, Andrew McGarry, and Dean Bilton, thanks for being part of our blog. Good night!
So near but so far for Izak Rankine and the Crows
Anderson, Rowell and Miller get the job done for the Suns
So the Suns hung on in the end, but it was a big night for the home side's midfield.
There was no 20 clearances for Matt Rowell - well, a lazy 9 for the Suns' number 18.
But Noah Anderson had a night out, with 35 disposals, eight clearances, eight inside 50s and six score involvements. The Suns' skipper, Touk Miller, also chimed in with 29 disposals, nine tackles and 10 clearances.
The final quarter might not have pleased Damien Hardwick, but the result and the general way they got the job done will.
The next couple of weeks will tell us a lot about the men from the Coast - next up is the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat, and then back home to face the high-flying GWS Giants.
That was a bit close for comfort
Thanks Andrew and Dean, close games are great when they fall the right way :)
- Mike
Glad you enjoyed things, Mike, but for us it's a little bit like this...
LoadingFull-time: Gold Coast win by six points!!!
The Suns are still hanging on, no one in their forward 50. the crowd is going nuts, the Crows are trying everything to get that goal. Will we have a draw?
Adelaide kick it inside 50, it should be a mark, but the Crows can't hang on!
The Suns clear it, it goes to the wing as the siren sounds, and the home side breath a sigh of relief. They are 2-0, but that was way closer than it needed to be.
A goal in it with a minute left!
Another rushed behind for the Crows. 60 seconds, six points in it... The Suns are hanging on barely here.
Crows get two in a minute!
Q4, 3:09 remaining: The Crows do it again! They get it forward and Josh Rachele shows composure in the wet, he snaps and it's back to 14.
And AGAIN! The Crows are moving the ball better, they are surging forward and this time it's Izak Rankine who kicks it against his old club. Game on! Eight points in it!
Crows a chance after another goal in the wet
Q4, 8:00 remaining: Well, well, well! The Crows are not giving it away here, and they are getting the ball forward whatever way they can.
They do it again, and Josh Rachele snaps another one... it's back to 19 points!
Sam Berry gets a goal back for Adelaide
Q4. 9:45 remaining: The rain is still falling at Carrara, and life is challenging for all players, but the Crows have put it together, kicking to the square and the Suns give away a free for over the shoulder.
Sam Berry kicks it, and the lead is back to 25 points. There's still time, but everything has to go right for Adelaide.
Malcolm Rosas kicks a goal for the Suns
Q4, 15:20 remaining: The Crows added a third goal for the night just shy of three quarter-time, but the visitors are still trailing mightily at Carrara.
The Suns have answered with the first goal of the final term through Malcolm Rosas, and that lead is back out to 36 points.
Full-time: Geelong wins by eight points!
One more rushed behind completes the scoring, but that was way too close for the Cats' nerves.
Big win for the home side, and they'll take those four points. The Saints will feel that is an opportunity lost.
Patrick Dangerfield kicks a match-winner for Geelong!
Q4, 0:35 remaining: There's one more twist! The Cats bring it forward they kick to 50, Dangerfield is taken out. He has the kick from 50, he goes back it goes wide ... but swings back and goes through!! Cats by seven.
Saints goal brings it back to a point!
Q4, 1:50 remaining: What is this??? The Cats give the ball away, the Saints break, Max King is free inside 50, he marks but switches it to the top of the square, and Darcy Wilson is there. he marks, kicks the goal. It's a point the difference!!!!!
Saints get another to Max King
Q4, 3:09 remaining: All right then! The Saints go forward again, the ball goes inside 50, there's no mark, but Max King gets a free kick. The crowd is ... not impressed.
King kicks the goal, it's back to seven points with three minutes left! Watch out, here we go!
Saints back to 13 points with goal to Cooper Sharman
Q4, 3:40 remaining: It's not over yet, folks! The Saints have struggled to get the gap down, but they get a mark to Cooper Sharman deep in the left forward pocket. he snaps one, and it's back to 13 points!
Cats kick clear with back-to-back goals
Q4, 7:45 remaining: That's a crucial passage of play, where the Cats went long inside 50, and Ollie Henry rises to take a great pack grab. He goes back and converts to get the lead out to 15.
And now the Cats are in again! They go long inside 50 again, this time the ball is marked by Tom Hawkins, and the Geelong veteran gets his first of the night.
The Cats lead by 21, and that has to be very close to game, set and match.
The rain is back at Carrara
It is coming down hard on the Gold Coast. This is going to be a messy second half.
Geelong extend the lead with goal to Zach Tuohy
Q4, 12:05 remaining: The nerves have been rising in Geelong, with St Kilda within a point after a series of behinds.
But the Cats have answered, with Shaun Mannagh getting the ball out to that man, Ollie Dempsey, and he squares it perfectly for Zach Tuohy.
The Irishman brings the crowd to its feet with a kick that's true, and Geelong lead by seven!
Izak Rankine kicks one for the Crows
Q3, 14:00 remaining: It's been a tough slog for Adelaide, but they finally put a solid attack together in the left forward pocket, and a perfect chip landed in Izak Rankine's arms. He bends the kick around and gets the goal. Suns by 28.