The Adelaide Crows withstood a sustained second half challenge from Geelong at Skilled Stadium on Sunday to prevail by 17 points – 11.10 (76) 8.11 (59).
The home side will rue another mid-match slip, which came in the second quarter when Adelaide piled on five goals to nil.
It left them behind from the 18-minute mark of the second term, when ex-Cat Ronnie Burns goaled for Adelaide,until four minutes into the final quarter when Aaron Lord ran in for his third and the Cats’ first at the city end of the ground.
But the fight back left them in front for only 10 minutes, when Nigel Smart, who started across half-back but played out of the goal square in the last term, marked and goaled to restore the lead for Adelaide.
As the contest entered time-on still very much in the balance, it was Adelaide who prevailed, James Gallagher pouncing on an errant handball from James Kelly to extend the lead to 10 points. A strong mark and goal to Rhett Biglands moments later sealed the result.
The Cats looked good early, weathering an early storm with Jason Torney scoring the opening goal for Adelaide with a break out of the middle from the opening bounce.
But with close checking through the middle and efficient work up forward, the Cats recovered, putting through three unanswered goals – including one to Paul Chapman seconds before the quarter-time siren – to lead by 17 points at the opening break.
Like the match against Brisbane at Skilled Stadium four weeks ago, it all went sour for the home side during the second term.
Suddenly, the Crows had runners breaking free in midfield and Mark Riccuito – at full-forward – was proving to be a dangerous target.
After majors to Scott Welsh and Ian Perrie to open the quarter, Riccuito tied scores at 26, on the end of a wonderful build up that started from a kick-in. The ball went through several sets of (Adelaide) hands before Torney’s precise kick found the skipper 20 metres out.
Adelaide piled on five goals to a solitary behind in the quarter and – in a 31-point turnaround – led by 14 points at the half. While the Cats did manage several forward thrusts, they were too often let down by poor disposal and overuse.
In keeping with Geelong’s recent run of matches, the team fought back from its lapse in concentration in the second half.
Showing more purpose and direction in the way they went forward, Geelong kicked long and quickly to a contest, the tactic rewarded with four goals. Their plight was aided by the loss of Welsh, who kicked two goals and a poster in the term but was forced off after receiving a blow to the chest.
He did return in the final quarter, but looked well below a hundred per-cent fit.
Aaron Lord’s second goal in time-on helped to reduce the gap to just two points at the last change. He finished the match with three.
The result moves Adelaide to 6-4, while the Cats fall to 2-8.
In the next round, Adelaide is back in Melbourne to face Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday, while the Cats take on Carlton at Telstra Dome the next day.
GEELONG: 3.7, 3.8, 7.10, 8.11 (59)
ADELAIDE: 1.2, 6.4, 8.6, 11.10 (76)
GOALS: Geelong: Lord 3, Graham, Mooney, McCarthy, Rooke, Chapman.
Adelaide: Welsh 3, Burns, Bassett, Doughty, Perrie, Ricciuto, Smart, Gallagher, Biglands.
BEST: Geelong: Riccardi, Chapman, Ling, Corey, Ablett, Lord.
Adelaide: Edwards, Bickley, Doughty, Welsh, Perrie, Torney.
INJURIES: Geelong: Ablett (ankle).
Adelaide: Burns (ankle), Bode (medial ligament) Ricciuto (lower back), Biglands (bruising) Welsh (bruising).
CHANGES: Geelong: Nil
Adelaide: James Gallagher replaced Tyson Stenglein (knee) in the selected side.
UMPIRES: Kennedy, Rosebury, McKenzie.
CROWD: 19,608 at Skilled Stadium.
