‘MODERN-DAY CLASSIC!’: Cats claim epic as Pies record man falls short amid controversy

What the heck just happened?!

In a genuine modern-day AFL classic — which featured ample late-game controversies — Geelong has held on for an epic three-point win over Collingwood as Jack Crisp fell agonisingly short of a fairytale finish on his record-breaking night.

Led by inspirational skipper Patrick Dangerfield, the Cats kicked ahead of the Magpies in the fourth term, only for Brody Mihocek to stand tall and get the Pies within a kick with just 20 seconds remaining in the match.

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Collingwood milestone man Jack Crisp, celebrating his record-breaking 245th consecutive game, took a diving mark with just seconds left on the clock.

He lined up from 45m out relatively close to directly in front but skewed the go-ahead shot to the right, handing Geelong a bonkers 13.12 (90) to 12.15 (87) victory.

“The Cats hold on in a modern-day classic at the MCG! You can’t believe what you’ve seen here tonight. Just cannot believe it,” Fox Footy commentator Mark Howard said on the siren.

The almost trademark Collingwood comeback followed a match-turning display from Dangerfield.

“It was a pretty special match,” Dangerfield told Fox Footy post-match.

The Cats trailed by as much as 20 points during the third quarter and were struggling to get their hands on the ball.

But despite a lack of opportunities, Geelong was efficient enough late to surge back within a kick at the final change.

“I give a lot of credit to the coaches box in the way they’ve changed their style and the way they go forward particularly, because they’re not getting opened up the other way,” Lyon said of the Cats. “It’s repeat entry, repeat entry, repeat entry … they refuse to hand the footy back.”

The Cats win could come at a cost after premiership big man Rhys Stanley went down with a hamstring injury.

Stanley came off during the first quarter and was substituted out of the match at the first change.

THE 3-2-1 …

3. THE FINISH

The final quarter of this match will be unpacked for days.

Trailing by seven points at the final change, the Cats kicked four goals on the trot to surge ahead of Collingwood.

But as the AFL world has come to expect, you can never count out the Pies, who kicked two quick goals in two minutes — via the boot of Brody Mihocek — to get within a kick with 20 seconds to go.

Cue more mayhem.

Cats ruck Mark Blicavs was caught holding the ball by Darcy Cameron at a secondary ball-up. The Pies ruck quickly played on with a handball to Steele Sidebottom, who cleared congestion and kicked the ball forward to Crisp, who took a diving mark just inside the 50m arc just before the siren sounded, giving himself the opportunity to win the match for Collingwood in his record-breaking 245th straight game.

“You wouldn’t write this script!” Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon said before Crisp’s kick.

But just when you thought footy scriptwriters were taking the you know what, Crisp skewed his set-shot attempt to the right, ensuring Geelong held on for a three-point win.

Magpies teammates immediately flocked to support Crisp, while relieved Geelong players celebrated the win.

But the final few minutes were also clouded in controversy.

Collingwood’s Lachie Schultz thought he’d kicked a goal to stop the Cats blitz, but the umpires’ soft call was a behind — before sending it to the ARC — as they believed Cat Mark Blicavs had touched the ball before crossing the line. And the review deemed there was insufficient evidence to overturn the on-field call, despite suggestions from commentators it didn’t appear that Blicavs had touched it.

But the most contentious moment came minutes later with a free kick paid against Bobby Hill for tripping.

With a tad over two minutes remaining and the Pies chasing the game down 10 points, Hill initially appeared to catch Geelong’s Shaun Mannagh dead in his tracks holding the ball — but the umpire believed Hill’s tackle slid too low.

“The right arm does go below the knee, but … that could be paid either way very easily,” Dunstall told Fox Footy.

2. ‘POSSESSED’ DANGER ENTERS BEAST MODE IN EXTRAORDINARY DISPLAY

Cometh the moment, cometh the champion.

Patrick Dangerfield at half-time had 12 disposals and zero score involvements to his name.

But in the second half, the veteran Cats superstar went full beast mode and put his team on his back in one of the more extraordinary individual displays we’ll likely see for the season.

He had four touches in the third term, but three of them led to scores. And he had two run-down tackles that left Fox Footy commentators gushing.

“Patty Dangerfield has upped the anti here,” Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon said. “He’s looked at this and gone: ‘OK, we can’t let this go on any longer.’

“He went into the middle of the ground and laid a big tackle that resulted in a goal, he’s gone into the forward 50 and laid a big chase down tackle that’s resulted in a goal.”

Jason Dunstall added: “He’s fun to watch, Dangerfield, when he’s in this scenario. Because when he sees an opening, he just puts the head down – and if you’re in the way, he’s just going to go straight through you … It’s exciting when he plays like this.”

Then with the game truly on the line in the fourth term, Dangerfield – in his new role as a primary forward – revisited his best football and sparked the Cats surge.

He collected 13 disposals, 10 contested possessions and five score involvements in the fourth term alone. That included a telling long-range goal, which ultimately helped ensure Geelong returned to the winners’ list.

Lyon suggested Dangerfield played “as heroic a last quarter as you’re ever likely to see”.

Triple premiership Cat Cameron Mooney said it was the best game he’d seen Dangerfield play.

Late umpire drama dominates thriller | 09:30

“I haven’t seen a captain put a club on his back like this in a second half in a long time. He has been enormous,” Mooney said on Fox Footy.

Dangerfield was in a reflective mood after the match.

“I love the game, love the Geelong Football Club, I love everything that we have built for a long period of time. It’s privilege to play the game, it’s a privilege to play the game against champions, so I relish those opportunities,” he said.

1. DAICOS v IRISH DAICOS

Triple premiership Tiger Jack Riewoldt predicted it pre-game.

“Get ready for a Chris Scott masterclass tonight,” Riewoldt told Fox Footy. “This is where I reckon he’s at his absolute best when he gets a little bit of a sting in the tail, his back’s against the wall and he gives us something really unique.”

And that something unique was evident from the first bounce as 25-game Cat Oisin Mullin was sent to tag Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos.

The irony, of course, was that ex-Geelong teammate Zach Tuohy said Geelong recruiting Mullin was “like pulling Nick Daicos out of the AFL” – a label that has stuck with Mullin and one that Tuohy somewhat regrets.

Pies ‘winners’ despite ‘stiff’ ump calls | 07:25

“Gee you’re asking a lot of Oisin Mullin,” Lyon told Fox Footy early in the game. “You’re talking about the best footballer we could produce and a bloke from Ireland, who’s only been here five minutes, has been asked to quell him.”

But Mullin on Saturday night held his own against Daicos.

The Collingwood midfielder was still influential, booting 1.1 from 28 disposals, eight score involvements and six clearances. But crucially, he only had three touches in the all-important final term.

Mullin had the nine touches, but crucially five tackles and four clearances for the match.