The Crows took it up to the Cats late,but the reigning premiers were too classy.Credit:Getty Images
That appeared to open the door for Adelaide to assume better control of the contest,and the Crows closed to within three goals when Izak Rankine snapped a goal from the boundary with just under 10 minutes to play.
Holmes put the margin back out to four goals,kicking a goal from the 50-metre arc,after receiving a free kick behind play,but the Crows kicked two more,to put the Cats under frantic pressure in the final few minutes. Geelong’s class shone through late.
“It was tight for most of the game,” Cats coach Chris Scott said.
“They always looked threatening to us,which is what we expected going into the game. I said during the week,I looked at them and didn’t see too many holes in the way they play but I saw plenty of threats,and that’s the way it played out.”
Crows coach Matthew Nicks said Geelong deserved the plaudits.
“I thought Geelong were outstanding,their pressure was up,their tackling was at another level and their defence was really strong,” he said.
“But we didn’t give up. I was really proud of the resilience our boys showed. I thought our guys hung in and hung in all day,and that last quarter,we really took it to them,and we were a chance with 10 minutes to go in the game. Really pleased we brought it today but not quite to the level to beat Geelong in Geelong.”
Cameron kicked 3.2 in the win,taking his season tally to 33,but Crows defender Jordan Butts had the better of Tom Hawkins.
Unique free kick
Ceglar was penalised for time-wasting,after he threw the ball up in the air to the field umpire instead of straight to him at a stoppage.
The ball had been wrapped up at Geelong’s half-forward line,and Ceglar came up with the ball,only to lob it above head height to the umpire when asked for it.
The umpire elected to pay a free kick to Adelaide for time-wasting.
Meanwhile,Brad Close was penalised for a dangerous tackle on Dawson,in which Dawson’s face appeared to hit the ground. The tackle is sure to attract some scrutiny from the match review officer based on the incidents cited in the first seven weeks of the season.
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But Scott believed his player had nothing to worry about.
“I had a look at it,and I’m very comfortable with it,” he said.
“It’s a topical issue ... I get it,but when a player is off-balance and kind of slips,falls into the ground,gets up and is OK,we’ve got the benefit the umpire doesn’t have.”
Cats’ injury list
Dangerfield’s hamstring injury adds to a lengthening injury list for the reigning premiers.
Cam Guthrie (toe) and Tyson Stengle (arm) are on the short-term injury list,while Sam De Koning’s face fracture has the young key defender ruled out for at least a fortnight.
Jack Henry (foot) and Rhys Stanley (eye socket) are unlikely to play before the Cats’ mid-season bye,while Sam Menegola (knee) won’t be available until the second half of the season.