Latest news with #AFLPiesCats
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Smith, Bont trade barbs after Cats' epic AFL win
Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli has hit back at Bailey Smith after the Geelong star fired an unprompted shot at his old club ahead of their big AFL clash. Moments after Smith had been high among the Cats' best in their epic Saturday night win over Collingwood, he contrasted the atmosphere of a packed MCG to the Bulldogs' win over Port Adelaide earlier in the day. Whereas Smith played in front of more than 80,000 fans, the Bulldogs-Port game featured less than 5000 because of building works at the Ballarat venue. Baz continues his amazing first season as a Cat 😼#AFLPiesCats — AFL (@AFL) May 3, 2025 "It's beautiful ... I'm not getting that at Ballarat," Smith told Fox Footy after Geelong's nail-biting 13.12 (90) to 12.15 (87) triumph. Smith joined Geelong from the Bulldogs in last year's trade period and he is due to face his old club on May 22 at GMHBA Stadium. Bulldogs skipper Bontempelli on Sunday gave a cheeky return of serve to Smith, his teammate of six years. "It's nice to know we're still on Bailey's mind," Bontempelli told the Seven Network. "You know, he's still thinking about us even at another team. "In the end, there's probably a few less people down in Ballarat for him to flip the bird to. "So maybe that's why he's a little bit disappointed." Smith wasn't finished, later posting a fishing emoji to his Instagram story, implying Bontempelli had taken the bait. Smith is relishing his new home and has not shied from controversy, fined twice already this season for flipping the bird at opposition fans. But the midfielder also continues to walk the walk with a game-high 34 possessions against Collingwood, while Cats captain Patrick Dangerfield was best afield after his outstanding last term. Dangerfield was pivotal in the Cats rallying from 20 points down in the third term to be 17 up late in the last term. Collingwood then stormed home and fell short by three points, with Jack Crisp's shot at goal after the final siren only scoring a behind. Dangerfield's ferocious attack on the ball had Cats coach Chris Scott comparing him to a New Zealand rugby legend. "He looked like Jonah Lomu there at one stage," Scott said. "He can attack the ball in the air, but that ground-level stuff, I'm a bit biased - I like those players, the (Jordan) De Goey-type players, powerful, bull-at-a-gate." Collingwood coach Craig McRae jokingly feared he might have poked the bear before the game. "I stole his park before the game and he wasn't happy. I blame myself - he's a bloody good player, isn't he," McRae said. "He's a battering ram. He just bee-lines you and runs through you. "Right now, he's just an igniter ... you need big players to stand up in big moments and he was fantastic." The Cats lost big man Rhys Stanley to a hamstring early in the match and Scott said Mark Blicavs was "critical" in replacing him at the ruck contests.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Patrick Dangerfield's unseen act in Cats thriller amid gutting scenes for Pies
Patrick Dangerfield has been hailed for a classy act that went almost unnoticed after Geelong's controversial three-point victory over Collingwood on Saturday night. The Magpies saw their six-game winning streak ended in heartbreaking fashion at the MCG after milestone man Jack Crisp missed a set shot at goal after the siren that would have won the game for the Pies. Crisp was featuring in an unprecedented 245th-consecutive AFL game that saw him break Melbourne great Jim Stynes' long-standing record. And the fairytale script was set up for Crisp when he took an incredible mark in the dying seconds, only to skew his attempted match-winner wide of the posts for a behind, as Collingwood went down 13.12 (90) to 12.15 (87) in an instant classic. As soon as Crisp's kick missed, Collingwood players raced in to rally around their teammate in a brilliant display of solidarity. And in a classy moment from the winning captain, Dangerfield was the first player from Geelong to offer his condolences to Crisp and congratulate him on the impressive AFL games record he'd set. Amidst the scenes around the shattered Collingwood players and the wild celebrations from the Cats, Dangerfield's gesture went largely unnoticed on Saturday night. But footage of moment was posted on social media a short time later as fans praised the class from the Geelong skipper, and his incredible final quarter contribution that fired Geelong to victory. Patrick Dangerfield's class on full display — straight to Jack Crisp after the siren ❤️#afl 🎥 - @thekickingconsultant — Cench (@cenchfooty) May 3, 2025 What a finish, feel for Crisp but Dangerfield with one of the all time final quarter performances wow.#AFLPiesCats — Riley McCartney (@RilesMacca) May 3, 2025 Dangerfield unbelievable footballer. Playing the game like Jonah Lomu played rugby back in day. Great win by the Cats. Crisp a star too. Bad luck for him. Outstanding game. — peter ryan (@petryan) May 3, 2025 Unbelievable game of footy. Dangerfield went to a whole new level last Qtr. Pies never gone. That would have been some moment if Crisp slots that. Unreal game of footy in a Saturday night! #AFLPiesCats — John Donohoe (@jdonohoe12) May 3, 2025 Dangerfield finished with 29 disposals, 17 contested possessions and a crucial goal that helped the Cats kick away in the final term. The Geelong skipper put on a fourth-quarter masterclass with 13 disposals, 10 contested possessions and five score involvements that led the Cats to victory after they trailed by 20 in the third term. Collingwood coach Craig McRae was obviously disappointed with his side's loss but proud of the way his players got around Crisp after the milestone man's brutal moment. "When he misses that kick, just look at the response of our team. It's testament to the character and culture that we have," McRae said after the crushing loss. "We look like winners, regardless of what the scoreboard said." Crisp said the support he received made him emotional, and the 31-year-old was joined on the field by his wife and kids afterwards, to celebrate his milestone feat. "I definitely feel a lot of love, everyone getting around me, especially Geelong players as well. It nearly brought a tear to my eye," Crisp told Fox Footy. His shot at goal after the siren capped a frenetic finish to the game, with the Magpies kicking two late goals to nearly steal the win. Crisp's after-the-siren miss capped off a rollercoaster game that included several questionable umpiring calls that went against the Pies. Lachie Schulz was denied a goal after the umpires deemed Mark Blicavs got a touch to his last-quarter snap and there was insufficient evidence to overrule the decision. And Bobby Hill was pinged for tripping Shaun Mannagh after an incredible chase-down tackle from behind. Replays showed the ruling appeared to be correct after Hill's hands slid down below Mannagh's knees in the tackle, but Kangaroos great David King suggested it was just one of numerous decisions that went against Collingwood on the night. "They got 14 of the last 18 free kicks. 15 minutes into the third quarter, the Pies led by 20 points and it felt like 30 points. They had full control of the game," King said on Fox Footy. 'I have to say it, and I've talked about the umpiring a lot this year — it's a negative starting point, and I understand that. But Collingwood were hard-done by in that last 12 minutes of football — there's no other way of looking at this. Patrick Dangerfield... he was everywhere, and he was everything, but the umpiring has had a massive impact on tonight's game.' Again @davidking34 shows he doesn't know the rules. Tackles that slip down below the knees have always been free kicks — Matt Head (@MattHead16_) May 3, 2025 Bobby Hill diving tackle on Shaun Mannagh in the dying moments of #AFLPiesCats — Michael Willson (@MichaelCWillson) May 3, 2025 with AAP
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
McRae lauds Magpies' spirit after epic AFL loss to Cats
Craig McRae has lauded his players as winners, even though their six-game AFL streak is over. He was rapt with how they handled the end of Saturday night's epic three-point loss to Geelong, rallying around Jack Crisp when he missed his shot at goal after the siren. It would have been a fairytale finish had he kicked accurately, given Crisp was playing in his 245th-consecutive match. That broke the long-standing AFL record, set by Melbourne great Jim Stynes. Collingwood players and also some Cats opponents immediately went to Crisp after his crucial kick only scored a behind. "When he misses that kick, just look at the response of our team. It's testament to the character and culture that we have," McRae said after the agonising 13.12 (90) to 12.15 (87) loss. "We look like winners, regardless of what the scoreboard said." Crisp said the support he received made him emotional. "I definitely feel a lot of love, everyone getting around me, especially Geelong players as well. It nearly brought a tear to my eye," he told Fox Footy. The Magpies get around Jack Crisp after the final siren 🖤🤍#AFLPiesCats — AFL (@AFL) May 3, 2025 His shot at goal after the siren capped a frenetic finish to the game, with the Magpies kicking two late goals to nearly steal the win There was also controversy, with Collingwood's Bobby Hill running down Shaun Mannagh in the last few minutes, only to be penalised for legging him. "Bobby was probably a little bit stiff," McRae said. Collingwood star Nick Daicos gave away a 50m penalty in the last term, his frustration showing after a solid tag from Oisin Mullin. Daicos still had 28 possessions, but only three in the final term. "He (Mullin) did a great job. It's hard to stop Nick and we're trying to move him to places where he has influence on the game," McRae said. "It's just what happens now when you become this player. "This is all just part of his learning." Collingwood have a five-day break before playing Fremantle in Perth and McRae said they are planning accordingly. Jeremy Howe was rested for the Geelong game and other veterans are likely to not make the trip. "Watch this space this week. We've been a bit deliberate in that ... five-day breaks are hard," McRae said.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jack not so Crisp as the Cats grab a narrow win
Collingwood's ironman Jack Crisp has missed a shot at goal after the siren and Geelong have won their epic AFL duel by three points. Crisp marked about 50m out and his shot missed to the right, with Geelong ending the Magpies' six-game winning streak on Saturday night at the MCG 13.12 (90) to 12.15 (87). After trailling for most of the match, the Cats took a 17-point lead late in the game on the back of an outstanding last quarter from captain Patrick Dangerfield. But two late goals to Brody Mihocek, giving him four for the game, set up Crisp for the potentially fairytale finish. This is Crisp's 245th-consecutive game, breaking the long-standing record set by Melbourne great Jim Stynes. There was also controversy in the frenetic last few minutes, with Bobby Hill running down Shaun Mannagh in the middle. The Magpies get around Jack Crisp after the final siren 🖤🤍#AFLPiesCats — AFL (@AFL) May 3, 2025 But Mannagh was paid the free kick because Hill's tackle was too low on his legs. Collingwood small forward Lachie Schultz had a shot at goal late and it was ruled a behind, with the score standing on review. The Magpies will rue this as one that they let slip, given they dominated for plenty of the game. It was a match played at finals intensity, before 82,514 fans. When Ollie Henry pounced and snapped his second goal eight minutes into the last quarter, the Cats led for the first time since the opening term. Dangerfield had 13 possessions in the last term as he put the Cats on his back and kicked a goal, also rucking at times. Geelong sent Oison Mullin to sit on Nick Daicos and while the Magpies star still had 28 possessions, the tag blunted his impact. Daicos' frustration was apparent in the last term when he gave away a free to Mullin and a 50m penalty. Needing to respond after last week's loss to Carlton, the Cats made a quick start and kicked the first three goals. But the Magpies settled and when Mihocek converted from his strong mark, they had hit the lead at 25 minutes. Geelong lost ruckman Rhys Stanley at quarter time with a hamstring injury. Collingwood continued to look more threatening in the second term and piled the pressure on the Cats, who managed to stay with them and only trailed by seven points at the main break. After Scott Pendlebury snapped accurately, Mihocek missed a shot at goal and the Magpies held a game-high lead of 20 points, 11 minutes into the third. But Geelong kicked three of the next four goals, including Oliver Wiltshire's first in his second senior game, and the margin was still seven points at three-quarter time despite Collingwood having 14 more inside 50s.
