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Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Should the Cats worry as the Lions flex their midfield muscle?
He didn't need to mention Levi Ashcroft had started on the bench and Jaspa Fletcher on a flank. If the Cats have the Bash Brothers in Holmes and Smith then the Lions can raise them with the Ashcroft Brothers, Will and Levi. Throw in Zac Bailey galloping through the middle and Darcy Wilmot and the veteran Dayne Zorko and the depth extends to all areas of the ground. Fagan was most impressed with Rayner, the No.1 pick who is delivering. After years of nearly being there is now a great player, his strength and confidence growing. He had five clearances and kicked three goals, two of them coming at the start of the third and fourth quarter to extinguish any hope the crowd might find voice. 'We have come to understand him and his strengths. It has taken us a little bit of time and how it all fits in with our system but in the last couple of years we have discovered that,' Fagan said. He led the way along with Will Ashcroft and Dunkley as Neale, a dual Brownlow medallist, was kept quiet by a gallant Tom Atkins who tried to lift his team. The question now is what Scott can plot to overcome the weight of numbers that is turning the tide the Lions way. The Cats remain in good shape and they are a strong chance to meet the Lions again in September. Geelong can point to poor kicking and an off-night and be right. But the biggest cat in the AFL jungle flexed their muscle on Friday night to take the Lions back into the top two. Fagan even admitted they have been at their best when facing the biggest of challenges this season. This was the last hoodoo of his reign. Beating Geelong at Geelong was something they had not managed since 2003. Loading The signs are good with more than half the season over. 'When we got to the bye last year we were 13th. When we get to the bye this year we're second,' Fagan said. 'I'm pretty pleased with where we are at, but it's a hard competition so you have to keep going, don't you.'
The Age
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
Should the Cats worry as the Lions flex their midfield muscle?
He didn't need to mention Levi Ashcroft had started on the bench and Jaspa Fletcher on a flank. If the Cats have the Bash Brothers in Holmes and Smith then the Lions can raise them with the Ashcroft Brothers, Will and Levi. Throw in Zac Bailey galloping through the middle and Darcy Wilmot and the veteran Dayne Zorko and the depth extends to all areas of the ground. Fagan was most impressed with Rayner, the No.1 pick who is delivering. After years of nearly being there is now a great player, his strength and confidence growing. He had five clearances and kicked three goals, two of them coming at the start of the third and fourth quarter to extinguish any hope the crowd might find voice. 'We have come to understand him and his strengths. It has taken us a little bit of time and how it all fits in with our system but in the last couple of years we have discovered that,' Fagan said. He led the way along with Will Ashcroft and Dunkley as Neale, a dual Brownlow medallist, was kept quiet by a gallant Tom Atkins who tried to lift his team. The question now is what Scott can plot to overcome the weight of numbers that is turning the tide the Lions way. The Cats remain in good shape and they are a strong chance to meet the Lions again in September. Geelong can point to poor kicking and an off-night and be right. But the biggest cat in the AFL jungle flexed their muscle on Friday night to take the Lions back into the top two. Fagan even admitted they have been at their best when facing the biggest of challenges this season. This was the last hoodoo of his reign. Beating Geelong at Geelong was something they had not managed since 2003. Loading The signs are good with more than half the season over. 'When we got to the bye last year we were 13th. When we get to the bye this year we're second,' Fagan said. 'I'm pretty pleased with where we are at, but it's a hard competition so you have to keep going, don't you.'
Courier-Mail
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
AFL world roasts Geelong Cats T-shirt stunt in Patrick Dangerfield 350th against Brisbane Lion at GMHBA Stadium
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Geelong's unique move to fill the stadium with white T-shirts for the club's big clash with the Brisbane Lions may not have drawn the response the Cats were seeking. The reigning premiers burst out of the blocks and dictated play most of the night in a statement 14.8 (92) to 6.15 (51) victory that snaps Brisbane's long losing run in Geelong. It all left the Cats' 'Kit out the Cattery' campaign falling a bit flat. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Billed as 'a sight to behold' and a 'slice of history' on the Geelong website, the Cats covered every seat at GMHBA Stadium with what they described as 'a free collectable T-shirt' for the Friday night blockbuster. It's a move that is often used in American sports and can have a strong look when everyone in the crowd is kitted out in the same colour. Both the Indiana Pacers and OKC Thunder have adopted the move during their clash in the NBA Finals. Bailey Smith in one of the white T-shirts handed out to the crowd. Photos: Getty Images On a night when the club was also celebrating captain Patrick Dangerfield's 350th AFL game, the commentators were certainly getting into the spirit. 'They have kitted out the Cattery with the white T-shirts on every seat, inspiration drawn from the NBA and college football in the US,' Gerard Whateley said on Fox Footy. 'It is quite the sight down the highway as the local heroes emerge. 'Patrick Dangerfield said one of his favourite parts of this would be (his children) Winnie, 'Flip' and George joining him to run through the banner. 'All the kids now fully aware of what they're part of, his place in Geelong lore, which grows tonight, game 350 … on a special night in the way that it shapes.' The fans appeared to be enjoying their moment, with many donning the shirts and a number of others waving them in the air on a cold night in Geelong. The Lions added a splash of colour to the occasion. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images) Nearly all of the OKC Thunder fans followed the memo during the NBA Finals. (Photo by) The Lions may not have got the memo, however, as the premiers made a hot start bidding for a first victory at Kardinia Park since they won five straight from 1998 to 2003. They have lost 13 consecutive games at the ground since then, yet they jumped out of the blocks with the game's first four goals. By halftime they held a 23-point edge and fans on social media were having a field day over the white T-shirt promotion, with many referencing the white flag of surrender. 'Lol white out is a roaring success so far,' was one comment on X. 'I don't think the white out worked,' said another. 'White out turning into a whitewash,' quipped another. 'I didn't have high expectations for the white T-shirt thing but it's looking pretty average,' declared another. 'Conceded the first 4 of the game, wave the white flag,' said a fifth. 'What's with the white, did Geelong decide to surrender?' asked another watching on. Others were left questioning the decision to use T-shirts as a gift on a Geelong night in late June. One said: 'Yes because people are gonna be in a T-shirt on a 3 degrees night in Geelong.' Another wrote: 'Yeah people are definitely gonna wear them on 5C winters night.' Apart from the T-shirts, Patrick Dangerfield was the man of the moment. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images) A wide number of fans used the word 'cringe' to describe the promotion, while another slammed 'the AFL's desperation to Americanise the game'. Some fans were getting on board, with a Hawthorn fan writing: 'Hate Geelong as much as the next Hawks fan but god damn those white shirts in the crowd look good.' A fan apparently in the crowd also gave an insight into perhaps why not everyone in the crowd was wearing the shirt. 'Late decision to make the trip down, might struggle to fit into my 2x small white out shirt,' they wrote. Dangerfield and the Cats needed to lift in the second half or the crowd will indeed be waving the white flag. But it wasn't to be as the Lions played the ultimate party poopers and showed their title defence is right on track. Originally published as 'Surrender?': AFL world roasts Geelong T-shirt stunt in Danger's 350th
Sydney Morning Herald
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Geelong vs Brisbane AFL LIVE: Lions stun Cats with dominant start in Dangerfield's 350th
Loading Key posts 7.27pm Cats follow Penn State's 'whiteout' 7.16pm Gardiner out sick but Andrews backs Lions to stand up 7.12pm AFL score involvement leaders 6.53pm Emotional Betts pays tribute to Stengle 6.46pm Lions lose defender in late change 6.37pm The Danger Man: Why Dangerfield is the most influential player of his generation 6.32pm Interactive: The road to the finals Hide key posts Go to latest The Danger Man: Why Dangerfield is the most influential player of his generation Chris Scott has never made any secret of his belief that recruiting Patrick Dangerfield in 2016 transformed the Cats. On the field, he helped restore a superb team into being a great team once again, leading a new generation into a new way. Off the field, he set a tone that allowed the people within the club to be themselves. Surfing could be part of a player's routine, or fishing, or herding cows. They could shrug after a loss, and laugh heading into a match. A competitive beast, Dangerfield recognises that winning all the time is impossible, while still chasing a premiership as hard as the most steely eyed AFL players. It opened the eyes of the skipper Joel Selwood – the then-Crow's arrival helping him loosen up. The captain's generosity was complemented by Dangerfield's sense of fun and perspective. 8.30pm Cameron strikes for Cats Jeremy Cameron has leapt across the pack and pulled in a mark before going back and kicking his first major of the night. The Cats need a big night from Jez and he's up and running now. That was his 100th goal at Geelong according to Fox Footy. Two Camerons, two Henrys, two Ashcrofts and two Neales playing tonight as Charlie Cameron concedes a 50-metre penalty and Jeremy Cameron kicked the goal. Lions 32, Cats 16 with 13 mins to go in Q2. 8.24pm Dangerfield misses chances It's Dangerfield's big night but he's missed his first two set shots at goal. He just won a free kick within reach of goal and decided to run around and snap the ball, but his kick was wayward. Lions 26, Cats 10 with 17 mins to go in Q2. 8.19pm The Cats must lift like Atkins, Henry did Brisbane have thrown the first punch, and it landed, with the Lions kicking the first four goals of the match. The Cats steadied late but they are lucky to only be 17 points behind at the first break. Jarrod Berry, Josh Dunkley, Cam Rayner and Will Ashcroft dominated out of the middle to have 18 inside 50s to Geelong's 10. The Cats were fortunate Jack Henry held up down back and Tom Atkins lifted in the second half. The Lions are chasing their first win at the venue since 2003 and have had exactly the start they hoped for with the crowd stunned. 8.16pm The quarter-time stats 8.14pm QT: Brisbane 4.2 (26) to Geelong 1.3 (9) The Lions kicked four goals without reply – only a 50-metre penalty has gifted the Cats a goal. They were slightly better in the final minutes, but Lions won that term in almost every way you could imagine. The Cats must lift. 8.10pm Cats gifted their first goal Dayne Zorko is both fuming and shocked. He thought he was outside the protected area. The umpire thought differently, but he was well clear of the kick. He's been called for encroachment and it gifted Shannon Neale a 50-metre penalty and he booted the goal. Lions 26, Cats 9 with two mins to go in Q1. 8.03pm Lions are dominating the clearances None of Brisbane's first three goalkickers were born when the Lions last won down here at GMHBA Stadium. Cam Rayner broke that sequence with the fourth goal. They are killing them at stoppages, have won centre clearances 4-0 and inside 50s 15-3 in a rapid start. So much for it being a fortress. Lions 26, Cats 2 with five mins to go in Q1. 8.01pm Lions go four goals ahead Darcy Wilmot has intercepted an errant Cats kick and goaled on the run. He was so excited he almost did a lap of the ground. Then from the centre bounce the Lions won the footy and Cam Rayner snapped their fourth goal. The Cats are stunned. The Lions are fired up. Will the Cats wake up? If they don't do so soon, the Lions will be gone far into the distance. Lions 26, Cats 1 with seven mins to go in Q1. 7.56pm 'Inexcusable': Smith's 50m penalty Fox Footy's Jason Dunstall said Bailey Smith's 50-metre penalty was 'inexcusable'. The Lions would have had a 30-metre shot for goal, one they could have missed by Smith's remonstrations after a free kick saw the ball advanced to the goal line. Kai Lohmann has followed up with a goal from the boundary, and now the Lions are firing. 7.54pm Lions miss early but are now on the board Goalkicking accuracy was the issue Chris Fagan identified as their biggest issue in the past two matches. The Lions did not start well with 0.2 to start the game, but now they are on the board through Levi Ashcroft. The Lions have kicked the first goal after a 50-metre penalty on Bailey Smith gave them a shot from the goal square. Lions 8, Cats 1 with 10 mins to go in Q1.
Sydney Morning Herald
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Geelong vs Brisbane AFL Live: Cats fans honour Dangerfield in 350th game as Lions clash approaches
Go to latest Pinned post from 6.37pm The Danger Man: Why Dangerfield is the most influential player of his generation Chris Scott has never made any secret of his belief that recruiting Patrick Dangerfield in 2016 transformed the Cats. On the field, he helped restore a superb team into being a great team once again, leading a new generation into a new way. Off the field, he set a tone that allowed the people within the club to be themselves. Surfing could be part of a player's routine, or fishing, or herding cows. They could shrug after a loss, and laugh heading into a match. A competitive beast, Dangerfield recognises that winning all the time is impossible, while still chasing a premiership as hard as the most steely eyed AFL players. It opened the eyes of the skipper Joel Selwood – the then-Crow's arrival helping him loosen up. The captain's generosity was complemented by Dangerfield's sense of fun and perspective. 6.46pm Lions lose defender in late change Darcy Gardiner was meant to be the replacement for injured defender Jack Payne but he is out with Bruce Reville coming in as a late replacement. It's not clear if he is injured or unwell. Reville will be the sub for the Lions, Ollie Henry will be sub for the Cats. The Danger Man: Why Dangerfield is the most influential player of his generation Chris Scott has never made any secret of his belief that recruiting Patrick Dangerfield in 2016 transformed the Cats. On the field, he helped restore a superb team into being a great team once again, leading a new generation into a new way. Off the field, he set a tone that allowed the people within the club to be themselves. Surfing could be part of a player's routine, or fishing, or herding cows. They could shrug after a loss, and laugh heading into a match. A competitive beast, Dangerfield recognises that winning all the time is impossible, while still chasing a premiership as hard as the most steely eyed AFL players. It opened the eyes of the skipper Joel Selwood – the then-Crow's arrival helping him loosen up. The captain's generosity was complemented by Dangerfield's sense of fun and perspective.
