Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield has kicked a long-range goal in the final minute to lift the inaccurate Cats to a tense eight-point win over St Kilda in their AFL season opener.
Three quick Saints goals in time-on had cut the margin to one point with time left to complete an incredible comeback.
But Geelong won the next centre clearance to gain field position and Dangerfield intercepted a hurried St Kilda defensive clearance on the 50 metre line.
The Cats champion held his nerve to seal the 10.16 (76) to 9.14 (68) victory in front of a record 39,352 fans at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday night.
Dangerfield (25 disposals, eight clearances) was hugely influential, supported well by Tanner Bruhn (20, six) and Max Holmes, who finished with 24 touches and 683 metres gained.
Jeremy Cameron dazzled with two brilliant first-half goals and young forward Ollie Dempsey shone with three goals and nine score involvements.
St Kilda were gallant but slumped to a 12th straight loss in Geelong, where they haven’t won since 1999.
Saints captain Jack Steele (25 disposals, nine clearances) fought hard in a losing cause and Tim Membrey kicked three goals in his first game since his shock late withdrawal from an elimination final last September because of a personal health matter.
Max King kicked two goals, as did highly-rated teenager Darcy Wilson on his debut.
The Saints lost Liam Stocker midway through the last quarter when he was hurt in a huge collision with Dangerfield.
Before the first bounce, Geelong officially opened the new Joel Selwood Stand in honour of their record-breaking former captain.
Membrey briefly silenced the home fans when he kicked the first major but Cameron brought them to their feet with his first-quarter goal of the year contender.
The key forward pounced on a loose ball and burst through congestion on the wing, chipped a kick forward to Brad Close, ran on to receive a return handpass and kicked truly on the run near the boundary line.
Cameron leapt onto the fence and pumped his fist to the adoring home crowd in celebration.
He added a second brilliant goal from the boundary – stepping around to nail a curling set shot – as the Cats flexed their muscle for a period of the second quarter.
Three consecutive goals stretched the margin to 24 points, but it was back to 13 by the main break despite the Cats dominating the inside-50 count (36-19).
A wasteful Geelong kicked 0.6 in the third term – just their sixth goalless quarter in 403 under Chris Scott at GMHBA Stadium – to the Saints’ 1.3.
Membrey kicked the first goal of the final term before three straight Cats goals looked to have sealed the result.
But quick goals to Cooper Sharman, King and Wilson cut the margin back to one point in the dying stages before Dangerfield kicked the match-winner.
(C) AAP 2024
