A last-minute super goal from Geelong captain Joel Selwood gave the Cats a two-point AFL pre-season cup victory over West Coast on Saturday night.
The Eagles looked to be cruising in the opening contest of the triple-header in Perth when leading by 22 points with just five minutes remaining.
However, the Cats got back within nine-point range and Jimmy Bartel handpassed off from a mark to his captain and Selwood kicked the goal from just outside the 50-metre arc to give Geelong victory 1.6.4 (49) to 1.6.2 (47).
Josh Caddy, who crossed from Gold Coast to the Cats at the end of last season, started brilliantly with a clever goal within 20 seconds in a sign of what he can offer.
Geelong led by seven points early in the second half of the reduced minutes contest, but that’s when the Eagles took over and the most heartening aspect of all was the successful return of All-Australian forward Mark LeCras.
He started solidly enough in the first half in his first official hit out in 17 months since he injured his knee and required a full reconstruction that cost his entire 2012 campaign.
While he had just five disposals in his return, it was what he did from a free-kick on the boundary that showed just how much he was missed and why he could help West Coast go that extra step or two in the finals this year.
LeCras kicked a goal from the boundary after a free-kick and, with a super goal soon after from Bradd Dalziell and a regular six-pointer to Fraser McInnes, the Eagles looked home with a 22-point lead.
However, quick goals to Travis Varcoe and Taylor Walker, and then the super goal by Selwood, saw the Cats scrape home.
Geelong next plays Fremantle before the night concludes with the first western derby of 2013.