A potentially lengthy suspension for Tom Stewart for a vicious hit on Richmond’s Dion Prestia has marred an otherwise classic Geelong performance at the MCG.
In a candidate for game of the year, the Cats trailed by two goals early in the final term of the round 15 clash, but rallied in classic Geelong fashion to kick four of the last five to stumble in the door by three points – 13.11 (89) to 13.8 (86).
The Cats led by a match-high six goals midway through the second term, before the Tigers fought back to kick three of the next four to halve the margin by the main break.
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The charge continued into the third quarter, and hit the front with just under 10 minutes to play.
The lead changed hands three times in the final term – Maurice Rioli Jr continues to make his mark in top-level footy by calmly slotting a set shot with two minutes on the clock to put Tigers back in front.
It didn’t end there – playing his first game since round five, Geelong’s Jack Henry grabbed a spectacular mark from the centre clearance before calmly slotting the match winner.
Elsewhere, Tyson Stengle kicked three for the Cats, and Jeremy Cameron bagged two in his 200th match.
Tom Stewart could be facing weeks on the sideline for the hit on Dion Prestia, which forced the 29-year-old to be medically subbed out of the match.
With five minutes left in the first quarter and trailing by seven points, Prestia had just tapped the ball back in-field when he was collected late by a charging Stewart, who appeared to be hit Prestia flush in the head with his shoulder.
In commentary for Fox Footy, Melbourne great Garry Lyon said the hit was as “clear-cut as we’ve seen for a while”.
Stewart was booed whenever he went near the ball for the rest of the match, but still had 24 disposals and made four marks.
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