Cats star hospitalised as Giants pull off comeback win
Joanna Guelas |
Geelong star Jeremy Cameron has been taken to hospital as GWS produced a stunning 13-point comeback over the Cats in a night of on-field carnage for both AFL teams.
After a surprise cameo in defence, Cameron hurt his left collarbone in a heavy fourth-quarter collision with GWS star Clayton Oliver as the Giants secured a 12.14 (86) to 11.7 (73) victory at Engie Stadium on Saturday.
The Giants trailed by a game-high 39 points in the third quarter before slamming through six unanswered goals, with Callum Brown kicking the decisive major.
Leading all afternoon until Brown’s goal, the Cats were hanging by a thread after Cameron, Tanner Bruhn and Jack Henry went down with injuries.
Cats defender Henry was forced off in the second quarter after a knock to the throat, before a heavy third-quarter tackle from Giants midfielder Toby Bedford left Bruhn dazed.
The Cats had already brought in Mitch Knevitt as a last-minute replacement for Mark O’Connor, while Patrick Dangerfield appeared to play through a sore left calf.
GWS will also be forced to add to an already lengthy injury list, with youngster Phoenix Gothard dislocating his left shoulder early in the fourth quarter.
The Giants remain in the hunt for finals and sit 11th (8-9), while the Cats are eighth (9-8).
Cameron – still suffering the effects of a broken arm from last year’s grand final – had impressed in defence, taking 11 marks after starting in a match-up with former Giants teammate and great friend Toby Greene.
The two-time Coleman Medal winner was stationed at a half-back against his former club GWS after his self-labelled “borderline pathetic” outing against the Lions in the previous round.
Young gun Ollie Dempsey (three goals) and Shaun Mannagh (four) took attacking duties in Cameron’s absence.
At the other end, GWS key defender Sam Taylor rediscovered his dangerous best in his sixth game back from a serious hamstring injury he suffered in this year’s State of Origin match.
The All-Australian finished with 11 intercept possessions and nine marks, while Clayton Oliver (36 disposals, nine clearances) was crucial at the contest.
Riley Hamilton – in just his second AFL game – kicked two crucial goals in the second half to keep the Giants in the game.
GWS were under siege early and trailed by 18 points at the first break, with Geelong notching 23 forward entries to the home side’s nine.
GWS were able to regain territory and win clearances 25-22 in the second quarter, but had no scoreboard reward for effort and trailed by 25 points at the main break.
As the Cats’ ascendancy continued, Mannagh provided a brilliant highlight when he kicked his third goal despite being “pantsed” by Giants midfielder Ryan Angwin.
GWS forward Jake Stringer, last week’s hero with a career-best seven goals, then hit the scoreboard with his only goal near the end of the third term to kickstart the Giants’ comeback.
AAP