[ad_1]
Geelong snapped their worst losing streak in 18 years with a lackluster 30-point win over Richmondcharging home after suffering a monumental upset at GMHBA Stadium.
After starting the game as $1.05 favorites with the bookies, the Cats trailed by 29 points at the end of the second quarter but finally started to rally with two goals just before half-time to trail by 16 points at the main break.
Geelong kicked six goals in the third quarter to take a three-point lead at the last change, finally overcoming the gutsy Tigers in the final round to win 15.9 (99) to 10.9 (69).
Get the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today 
After taking their first lead 20 minutes into the third quarter, the Cats dominated the second half, scoring 14.6 to Richmond’s 3.2.
The result snapped a four-game losing streak – their worst in Chris Scott’s 14 seasons as Geelong coach – after starting the season 7-0.
It also saw the Cats avoid three straight defeats at their Kardinia Park stronghold for the first time since 2006.
Already ravaged by injury, Richmond will be sweating on Mykelti Lefau’s scan after the forward landed awkwardly and was taken out last term clutching his knee.
Lefau, the former NRL hopeful who suffered an ACL injury in 2022, was quickly surrounded by three medical staff.
“The medical staff are very concerned about Mykelti,” Jason Bennett said on Channel 7 commentary.
Tigers great Matthew Richardson said he was “really worried” by the sight of Lefau grabbing his knee.
“I don’t want to be an alarmist – he got up and ran, but when you have squares like that, it can potentially mask something that’s going on,” he said.
Richmond coach Adem Izeh confirmed it “doesn’t look good” for Lefau, who will undergo a scan on Monday to find out if his ACL was torn in the incident.
“It will be rocking if it’s because he’s in good shape and a real talent,” Yze said.
“If that’s the case, we’ll embrace it like we did the other guys who got injured. We hope so, but it may not be the case.”
Tylar Young and Sam Naismith suffered ACL tears in back-to-back weeks in May after Josh Gibcus and Judson Clarke dealt with the same injury earlier this season.
Richmond’s two-time premiership, Marlion Pickett, had a scrappy night, giving the middle finger to Cats supporters after being taken off in the final quarter.
The Tigers fell to 1-11 with their eighth straight loss – their worst losing streak since 2010, three-time major league coach Damien Hardwick’s first season in charge.
While Scott would have been outraged by the Cats’ first half, he would have been pleased with how Geelong turned the game around.
It wasn’t the Cats’ stars like Tom Stewart, Jeremy Cameron and Mitch Duncan that got them back into contention.
Athletic striker Ollie Dempsey dominated with three goals and 27 disposals, while Tom Atkins was kept busy in midfield.
Former Gold Coast halfback Jack Bowes came through from center with 10 clearances and was regularly dangerous in his best game for the Cats.
Geelong forward Ollie Henry faces a spell on the sidelines after being substituted in the second quarter with a hamstring injury.
Two weeks after being crushed by 119 points by the Brisbane Lions in what coach Adem Izeh hoped would be the bottom, Richmond braved a place they had not entered since 2017.
But they were made to pay for some sloppy mistakes that put Geelong back in the game late in the second quarter.
– with 7NEWS
[ad_2]
