Round 20, 2005
Geelong vs Melbourne
Saturday 13 August
Venue: Kardinia Park
Attendance: 20,148
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Geelong | 4.3 | 9.4 | 11.5 | 15.9.99 |
| Melbourne | 2.4 | 4.7 | 10.14 | 14.16.100 |
Melbourne win by 1 points
Goalkickers: Russell Robertson 7, Travis Johnstone 2, Steven Armstrong 1, Aaron Davey 1, Simon Godfrey 1, Brad Miller 1, Shannon Motlop 1
Brownlow Votes:
2 - Travis Johnstone
1 - Russell Robertson
Milestones:
Nil
Melbourne travelled to Kardinia Park with their finals hopes hanging by a thread and a woeful record in Geelong where they had not won since 1988. Having already lost seven in a row in season 2005, it was the last throw of the dice for the Demons.
At half time it looked as if that record was going to continue when the Cats held a comfortable lead. They had been 34 points in front in the second term, and 31 in the third but a blistering end to the third quarter gave the Demons a slender lead at the final break. Geelong then opened up a 15 point lead in the last before the Demons once again challenged.
In the third term a Cameron Ling blunder gifted Melbourne a goal to get them back into the contest, before the Cats gave away two free kicks for goals to put the Demons right back into the contest.
Seven goals from the dominant Russell Robertson was the difference. Geelong defender Matthew Egan had the opportunity to win the game with a kick from outside 50 after the siren but he pushed it to the left to give the Demons a 1pt win and a wild card back into the finals race.
With the win they moved level on points with 8th place Fremantle and 9th placed Western Bulldogs who they were due to play the next week. A loss would have seen them drop to 12th and effectively out of finals contention.
Speaking after the match a pumped up Neale Daniher said Mate, I'm not drained, I'm pumped - ready to go," Daniher said.
"To win one by one point after the siren, that will give us a big lift. We've had many a long drive from this place back to Melbourne over 18 years - I think I might drive home slowly.
"The season is a marathon. It's been said like that - we can see the stadium and we're still in the race."
Video
Lists
After The Siren
One Point games
Media
Age - 13/08/2005