Dangerfield-led Cats take complete control to keep blunt Demons at bay

A good evening for the Cats fans among us but another tough week coming for the Demons. Gather Round awaits next weekend, with the Cats opening the show against Adelaide on Thursday and the Dees facing Essendon on Saturday night.

But we’ve still got plenty of round four to come first. The blog will be back tomorrow arvo and I hope you can rejoin us then. Thanks for your company tonight!

Danger split his time between the midfield and forward line tonight and dominated in both areas.

Three goals, 20 disposals, six marks, 473 metres gained, three clearances, nine score involvements. He was pretty much the difference between the two teams tonight in my books.

The margin makes that win look a lot more comfortable for Geelong than it really was. It took until the last quarter for the Demons to be properly put away, the Cats having to withstand some Melbourne surges before showing their class late.

The Demons’ issues are pretty clear. Clearances dead level, and Melbourne even won the inside 50 count by one, but the ability to turn those looks into scores was poor. The Demons have no reliable path to goal and against a ruthless Geelong side that is not going to lead to wins.

The Cats took an incredible 165 marks tonight, 148 of them uncontested. That paints a pretty clear picture of domination of possession, and complete control over the game. The Demons threw some punches, but for the most part the Cats held their long arm out and let them tucker themselves out.

The Cats have steadied to 2-2, and the Demons are in a real spot of bother at 0-4.

They’re running up the margin in the final minutes now, with Stengle getting involved late.

Mannagh’s searing pass inside 50 found Stengle on the chest, and the 50-metre-penalty made sure of it.

The wind has come out of the Melbourne sails now and Geelong is able to pick its way around the ground with kick and mark.

Melbourne might have been happy with the eventual set shot coming to Stengle deep in the pocket, but the crafty small forward was up to the task. Perfect drop punt. They won’t be beaten from here.

Look at those blue and white hoops surging forward in numbers from centre wing, linking by hand and working the ball to Mannagh for an easy snap.

The Demons have held on all night but it looks like they are about to be washed away. The Cats lead by 27.

He’s too big! A ball set up to the hot spot had Neale’s name all over it, and the big fella in the Geelong forward line got the job done.

Big clunk, comfy set shot from 20 out, 22-point margin. Geelong is nearly there.

Fritsch took a strong one-on-one mark in the pocket, but the set shot proved beyond him.

Melbourne simply can not afford to let opportunities pass by in this quarter. Everything has to go right from here.

The Demons are fighting this one out like their season depends on it. Some of the last-ditch defensive efforts in that quarter were so good, and they are certainly still within reach.

But Geelong hasn’t yet taken a backward step either, and young Connor O’Sullivan has stepped up to fill the breach left by Jack Henry in defence. It’s a slog out there at times, with a few moments of individual brilliance proving the difference.

From one end to the other, Melbourne find a way through the Geelong defence. When it’s worked after quarter time, it’s really worked for Melbourne.

No surprises Pickett was involved, but his kick didn’t quite make it to Fritsch. He was clever enough to trap the ball and dish it off to Langdon, who finished smartly on the run.

This has turned into a Patrick Dangerfield classic. He has been sensational tonight, clearly best on the ground so far in my books.

This goal came from a traditional lead up and set shot, in the tradition of the great full forwards of years gone by. Not sure how you stop him in this mood.

Steven May is laying on the turf wondering how he wasn’t paid the mark, while also counting the cost of what looks to be a knock in the ribs.

But while the play went on, the ball somehow was extracted to Bowes who has ready to snap from close range. The Cats keep finding the answers when they need them.

First blood Melbourne in the third quarter!

It wasn’t always pretty, but the Demons find a way to go end to end through the middle of the ground. Pickett’s kick inside 50 was the only moment of quality in the move and found the leading chest of Turner.

It’s a 10-point game.

Early movements in this quarter will be crucial. The Melbourne rearguard could be snuffed out entirely with some quick Cats strikes.

But if the Dees get the first couple…

Melbourne made strides forward in that quarter after a slow start, but have only pulled the margin back by two points. The Cats seemed to be a little rattled by the loss of Jack Henry in defence and Melbourne pounced with some increased intent of its own.

There’s a spring in the Demons’ step at the long break. About 20 minutes ago they looked like they were slipping out of the contest but as Max Gawn leads them off the field they do so with a kind of momentum.

It’s still Geelong’s to lose from here, but there’s life in Melbourne. At this point in time, that might be enough.

It’s a shootout all of a sudden. Quick centre clearance won by Gawn, ball brought to ground at the 50, crumbed and slotted by young Langford on the run.

Classy work from the rookie midfielder who has a long, long career ahead of him.

It looked like SDK had made an absolute meal of that, hesitating when he could have got a snap away. He was caught initially, but Petracca wasn’t able to clear the ball away with the next possession.

De Koning got a second chance on his snap at goal and didn’t make the same mistake twice.

A free kick in a ruck contest gives JVR the chance and he doesn’t let the Demons down.

That Henry injury could be a big moment in this game, as he has been thwarter in chief of Melbourne attacks. Could the worm be turning?

Looks like a hamstring, and looks like a bad one.

I’m no doctor, but I imagine Mark O’Connor will be getting subbed into the game very shortly.