Chris Scott conceeds Geelong was lucky to flee with a draw towards Sydney though it was Isaac Heeney who snapped a behind to degree the scores within the dying phases on the SCG.
The Cats led by the barest of margins when Heeney collected a bouncing ball and threw it on his boot from simply exterior the goalsquare with 30 seconds remaining to tie the scores at 54 apiece on Friday.
But the scoreline might need been very completely different for the wasteful Swans who paid the value for inaccurate goalkicking all through to complete 6.18 (54) to the Cats’ 7.12 (54).
“It feels like two points is better than none,” Cats coach Scott mentioned. “And none is probably what we deserve for large parts of it.”
Robbie Fox appeared set to sum up Sydney’s evening when he bumped into an open aim with the hosts trailing by two factors on the 23-minute mark of the ultimate time period however slammed the ball right into a submit.
Geelong have been lower than a minute away from claiming an unlikely victory after being outplayed for a lot of the competition when Heeney’s ultimate intervention meant the 2 groups shared the 4 factors for the primary time of their historical past.
“I think if someone had said at the start of the year that there is going to be a grand final replay, round 16 at the SCG, and it’s going to finish in a draw, you’d be desperate to get a hold of that tape,” Scott added.
The Swans troubles close to aim began early as they dominated the ball and territory within the opening time period to steer 109-65 in disposals and inside 50s (17-9), however have been wasteful with their 10 pictures.
The Swans went into the primary change trailing by 9 factors and the second time period performed out a lot the identical method, as Sydney had one other 11 pictures on aim however solely took a 4.12 to 4.4 lead into the primary break.
The sport was extra of an arm wrestle from there because the Cats slowed the Swans’ ball motion and tightened up in defence.
“Our first half, we executed exactly what we wanted to do. I thought we were very strong in all aspects of the game, except the finishing,” Swans coach John Longmire mentioned.
“That’s an important part of the game, and we didn’t do it, and if you look at the way the game was played, that first half, we did everything right except finish the work off on the scoreboard.”
Zach Tuohy starred for Geelong as he celebrated equalling Jim Stynes’ document for probably the most VFL/AFL matches from an Irishman with 28 disposals in his 264th sport.
Gryan Miers was additionally prolific with 26 disposals and a aim, whereas Mitch Duncan (25) appeared again to his finest in a 3rd match since overcoming a hamstring harm.
Co-captains Luke Parker (27 touches, one aim) and Callum Mills (24) have been among the many Swans’ standouts as younger midfielders Errol Gulden (26) and Angus Sheldrick (22) impressed.
Spearhead Tom Hawkins and sharpshooter Oliver Henry each booted two crucial targets for the Cats, whereas Logan McDonald and Braeden Campbell completed with two for the Swans in a low-scoring contest.
Sydney face Richmond subsequent in what looms as a must-win conflict for each groups on the MCG on Thursday evening, whereas Geelong host North Melbourne on Sunday.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
