Geelong skipper Joel Selwood‘s record-breaking 227th match as captain was one for the history books as his men pulled off an epic 43-point turnaround against Collingwood at the MCG.
The Pies were in control for the majority of the first half, but allowed the Cats to hang in the contest through inaccuracy in front of goal.
Geelong slotted a couple of majors late in the second term to stay in touch. This included a 50 metre penalty and set shot to Patrick Dangerfield which drew some feedback from opposing skipper, Scott Pendlebury.
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In the passage of play, Dangerfield fall to the ground following a shepherd from defender Brayden Maynard. Dangerfield was then awarded a free kick and 50 metre penalty as Maynard was judged to have impeded the Geelong star’s run at the ball.
“Is there a fine for staging?”, Pendlebury asked the umpire.
“I’ll let upstairs worry about that on Monday,” the umpire replied, as the 2016 Brownlow medallist kicked the goal to put the Cats in front heading into half time.
The outcome then looked all but settled with the Pies piling on seven consecutive goals in the third term to just about bury the Cats.
With Esava Ratugolea also subbed out of the match at the final break with a lower leg injury, a comeback looked unlikely.
However, incredibly, Geelong wrestled back the score to regain the lead 23 minutes into the final term.
Spearheaded by their key forwards, Jeremy Cameron converted his equal-biggest bag as a Cat with six goals, while Tom Hawkins added three of his own to deliver the chocolates for their beloved captain.
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