The Geelong Cats overcame recent form and missing stars to claim this year’s Ideas Club Cup, in a seesawing match against Melbourne at the MCG last night. In the aftemath, a jubilant Geelong captain, Patrick Dangerfield, announced he would be playing on again next season.
‘This is why you play footy,’ Dangerfield told reporters. ‘For night’s like this. And I think I’ve got one or two left in me’.
Leading the Ideas Club Cup table coming into the match, Melbourne got out to a fast start, and lead by 16 points late in the first quarter. But Geelong tightened the contest in the second term, placing some of their most experienced players in the middle of the ground, and turning the match into a stoppage heavy, physical contest.
The Cats would kick 7 goals in the second quarter to set up the win, denying Melbourne their preferred fast, attacking style of play.
This year’s Ideas Club Cup was particuarly close, with all teams winning one and losing one game. All three games were tight, earlier highlights included Melbourne’s stirring come from behind win against Carlton, where they overturned a 40+ point deficeit, and Carlton’s own upset of Geelong, where skipper Patrick Cripps kicked the winning goal in the dying minutes.
Geelong would sneak past Melbourne on percentage, to claim the trophy.