CHRIS Scott needs to bottle whatever he delivered his Geelong side at half-time on Thursday night.
Trailing by 10 points after a spluttering three-goal first half, the Cats bombarded Brisbane with seven unanswered goals in an extraordinary third term.
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It started with Sam Menegola and Patrick Dangerfield in the midfield, while Gary Ablett produced his vintage best across half-forward and Tom Hawkins was involved in everything in attack as the Lions rolled over.
CATS ON FIRE Full match coverage and stats
It landed the Cats the highest scoring quarter in the competition this season and propelled them to a 11.7 (73) to 6.10 (46) victory at the SCG, leapfrogging the Lions into second place.
The win on the Cats' makeshift 'home' ground was made even more remarkable after being reduced to two rotations at quarter-time with Mitch Duncan and Quinton Narkle suffering hamstring injuries.
After Ablett's goal from beyond 50m in the opening minutes, the Lions kicked four consecutive goals as the Cats were left over-possessing the ball.
When Lachie Neale dribbled through a brilliant goal from the pocket, the Lions led by 22 points to look every bit the second-placed team on the ladder.
Two settling goals from Menegola and Hawkins – both set-up by Ablett – on the stroke of half-time wrestled back some momentum before the Cats went berserk in the second half.
The Lions suffered their own injury concern when Mitch Robinson limped off during the third quarter before sitting out the rest of the match with ice on his right thigh.
Cats leaders stand up when it matters most
Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood were shown up by Lachie Neale and Dayne Zorko in the first half. Then, with a point to prove, the Cats duo led the spark in the opening minutes of the third term. Without Mitch Duncan and Quinton Narkle (hamstring injuries), Dangerfield and Selwood combined for eight clearances in the third quarter to the Lions' six in total. It allowed Sam Menegola and Gary Ablett to do the damage going forward, while Tom Hawkins and Gary Rohan kicked two goals apiece in the most blistering quarter of the season.
The influence of Charlie Cameron?
Chris Scott was questioned from all corners when he said Charlie Cameron wasn't the difference, despite five goals in the Lions' one-point win when the sides last met. After conceding Cameron was the premier small forward in the competition during the week, Scott sent Irishman Mark O'Connor to the Virgin Australia All-Australian to start the match. Cameron managed one goal – via an O'Connor clanger – from three scoring shots in a mostly uneventful evening manned by O'Connor or Jed Bews.
Rohan to be assessed for two incidents
Gary Rohan will have a nervous wait ahead of the Match Review findings released on Friday. The forward was put on report for a late hit on Lion Brandon Starcevich in the opening minutes of the game that is likely to be thrown out for minimal contact. However, just moments later, Rohan laid a late bump on Ryan Lester than left the Lions defender dazed and will leave Rohan fearing for his chances to face Collingwood next Thursday night.
GEELONG 1.4 3.4 10.7 11.7 (73)
BRISBANE 1.6 4.8 4.9 6.10 (46)
GOALS
Geelong: Hawkins 3, Ablett 2, Rohan 2, Menegola 2, Ratugolea, Parfitt
Brisbane: Rayner 2, Cameron, Neale, Hipwood, McCluggage
BEST
Geelong: Dangerfield, Menegola, Hawkins, Simpson, Blicavs, Ablett
Brisbane: Neale, Rayner, Zorko, J.Berry, Lyons
INJURIES
Geelong: Narkle (hamstring), Duncan (hamstring)
Brisbane: Robinson (corked quad)
