Geelong will face “the best team in the world” Hawthorn at the MCG on Friday night without Joel Corey and possibly without Steve Johnson, but with growing form and belief.
The AFL’s reigning premiers weathered injuries and an Adelaide surge to win 15.12 (102) to 11.9 (75) at Simonds Stadium on Saturday.
Having labelled their earlier thrashing of Essendon the best performance of the season, coach Chris Scott was just as enthusiastic about their win over the Crows, who started the round in second place.
“I was really impressed with the fight,” Scott told reporters.
“I thought our execution the last two weeks has been much much better, but the fight and the intent and the competitiveness has matched the execution.”
The Cats lost Johnson at the opening bounce, when Adelaide’s Scott Thompson collected him with a left arm to the face.
Johnson was forced out of the game concussed and bleeding from the mouth.
Thompson, Adelaide’s best player on Saturday, faces a likely suspension, which would also end his Brownlow Medal chances, having started the game as outright favourite for the award.
The Cats withstood that blow to build a 33-point halftime lead.
They suffered a second major setback, losing 250-gamer Corey to a hamstring injury at halftime.
The Crows stormed back with a five-goals-to-one third term, including a 70m goal of the year contender from inspirational youngster Patrick Dangerfield.
They closed the gap to two points early in the final term.
But the depleted home side fought back to kick the next five goals and win comfortably.
Key forward Tom Hawkins (11 marks, three goals) was superb, while skipper Joel Selwood and half-forward Allen Christensen also impressed.
Corey will miss Friday night’s Hawks clash and possibly the following round against West Coast, while Johnson is in doubt to play Hawthorn.
But Matthew Scarlett will return from suspension and James Podsiadly from injury.
The Hawks are on an eight-game winning streak, all by big margins, but have lost their past eight against the Cats.
Scott said the confident Cats would need to produce their best.
“They’re the best team in the world at the moment, aren’t they,” he said of the Hawks.
“Everyone’s saying that and I tend to agree, having watched them last night (against Essendon).
“It’s a huge challenge.”
Crows coach Brenton Sanderson said his side had two or three outstanding players on Saturday, presumably meaning Thompson and Dangerfield, but too little support.
“We came here expecting to win and we didn’t win, played really poorly, so we’ll lick our wounds and get on with beating Essendon next week,” Sanderson said.