Geelong has held off a valiant North Melbourne to record their first win in Tasmania at a sold out Blundstone Arena.
The 62-42 point victory will also see the Cats secure their spot in the top two for at least another week.
After a first half that involved six lead changes, Geelong took and held the lead throughout the second to take home the points.
The Guthrie brothers put on a show, Cam with a crucial 28 disposals and two goals and Zach clinical in defence with 28 touches and a career high 11 intercept possessions. Guthrie’s (Zach) performance was even more impressive as a late in hours before the game.
Tom Stewart also held strong in defence in a game that saw a combined 119 turnovers between both teams, North Melbourne with 65 and Geelong with 54.
With a game-high lead and final margin of 20 late in the fourth, the much-improved Roos fought hard to remain in the contest throughout the game.
Young guns Luke Davies-Uniacke (23 disposals and one goal) and Jy Simpkin (29 disposals) once again held strong in the midfield, impressively in the absence of Cunnington, to showcase the future of North’s midfield.
Aaron Hall also played a pivotal role, with 35 disposals at 89 per cent efficiency.
Despite losing, it was an encouraging performance by the Roos who have been a different side since Round 5 when they last met Geelong. They continue to improve week-by-week and the future looks bright.
For Geelong, they’ll be happy to take home the four points, but will look to improve on this performance going into the remainder of the season and finals.
North Melbourne will next face Richmond, while the Cats look to make it six in a row against the Giants in Round 21.
FULL SCORE
North Melbourne: 3.2, 4.4, 5.6, 6.6. (42)
Geelong: 2.4, 5.6, 6.11, 8.14. (62)
BEST
North Melbourne: Simpkin, Davies-Uniacke, Hall, Ziebell.
Geelong: Zac Guthrie, Cam Guthrie, Stewart, Smith, Bews.
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Geelong: Nil