The Bendigo Bank Cats have gone within a whisker of completing a stunning comeback victory in their 10-point loss to Sandringham at Trevor Barker Oval on Saturday.

In a dramatic game of two halves, Geelong fought back from eleven goals down to get within four points of the reigning premier in the pulsating grand final rematch, adding another chapter to the tale of epic encounters between the two great combatants.

After emerging from half time 64 points in arrears following a dismal first half against a red-hot Sandringham, the Cats slammed on eleven goals to three in a scintillating third quarter, before squandering two chances to win deep in the last, finishing 20-19-139 to 23-11-149.

In a startling case of déjà vu to last year’s grand final, Geelong came home with a wet sail to whittle away a seemingly unassailable lead before falling agonisingly close despite last ditched attempts.

Steve Johnson, with five goals in a best on ground performance, was a standout for the second week running, while captain James Byrne and developing ruckman Trent West impressed.

Johnson had 33 possessions, seven marks and also kicked six behinds, while Byrne’s 35 possessions and nine tackles were influential.

Dynamic rookie Jason Davenport had a golden chance to put the Cats one point up deep in the final quarter, but missed a set shot from 25 metres out.

Despite the miss, the Fothergill-Round Medallist was instrumental in propelling the Cats from the first half doldrums through his instinctive run and explosive ball movement.

The form of the side’s seven VFL debutants provided an immense positive from the match, including the performance of Nathan Djerrkura and Liam Bedford, who is rapidly improving with every game he plays.

But arguably, the fact Leigh Tudor’s troops had the temperament to respond to his half time message against a formidable opposition suggests a resolve in the face of a challenge is still very much evident amongst this playing group.

The Cats sit in seventh position on the VFL ladder and will play Tasmania next week, who defeated Bendigo by 30 points at Windy Hill on Saturday.

As good as Sandringham was in the first half, Geelong was ordinary.

Sandringham – buoyed by the unveiling of its 2006 premiership flag – hit the ground running and declared its intentions early in the first quarter by opening up a five goal lead.

Geelong simply didn’t match the early intensity shown and the Zebras dominated clearances around the ground.

As a result, Geelong struggled for fluency through the midfield, allowing Sandringham to drop numbers back to suffocate the Cats’ attacking forays.

Todd Grima started well and looked a likely target in attack, but failed to convert on his early hard work; while Sandringham was powerful on the rebound, translating their hard work into scoreboard pressure.

The early lead ballooned out to six goals, before the Cats regathered their composure and matched the Zebra’s intensity to finish the quarter off in a flourish.

The stagnate ball movement that had permeated through the side early in the quarter was released, as the Cats starting playing the quick and direct football that took it to the summit last season.

Johnson burst into prominence, kicking two goals, and setting up Simon Hogan who showed football smarts under pressure, while Drew Barnes snared an opportunistic goal at ground level.

In a nightmare second quarter, notoriously troublesome at Geelong, Sandringham set the foundations for a monumental round one annihilation with eight goals to none and looked intent on obliterating the young Cats.

Geelong unraveled at the seams, as Sandringham won the disputed football, rode their luck and had a systematic game plan made to look exemplary by the rattled Cats.

Geelong’s forward line entry was erratic; giving the forwards little chance of being effective and Sandringham rebounded with ease.

While Tim Callan battled admirably, the valiant efforts of VFL-listed players Scott Thompson, Chris Urie and Barnes did not go unnoticed.

The Cats’ demise was epitomised when Grima sprayed a set shot from 15 metres out after taking a strong pack mark in the most promising passage of play for the quarter.

Geelong opened up the third quarter with an explosion, kicking six goals in nine minutes to assert its authority back onto the match.

A newfound ruthless attack on the ball was found and the Cats built their resurgence on the back of a wave of momentum and confidence.

The skill level was of a marked improvement; the Cats won the clearances and played with an attacking mindset.

Liam Bedford gave the Cats a spark off halfback, while West brought down his opponent in a gut-wrenching tackle that brought the Cats to life.

Byrne wracked up the possessions, while Johnson and Davenport worked industriously to drag the Cats further out of the mire.

Sandringham replied sporadically – never in succession - as if they were detonating strategic momentum killers, but the Cats failed to drop their ascendency, and replied in torrents.

When Matthew Spencer kicked his second goal of the quarter on the three quarter siren, he brought up the Cats eleventh goal of the quarter, and the Cats had stripped 48 points off the half time deficit.

After a diametrically out of proportioned game of football for three quarters, the battle between the two sides in the last quarter finally reflected the score line – close and even.

Geelong looked to have all the momentum, and with a faster and fitter list, was expected to run the Zebras into the ground, after reducing the margin to a goal when Sam Hunt sent a long driving goal home from outside fifty on the eve of time on.

Matthew Spencer - who tugged a kick right - and Jason Davenport - who hooked his set shot - both had chances to either tie the match or put the Cats in front in time on, before Sautner kicked his seventh goal of the afternoon from a free kick to put the Zebras up by 10 points.

The Bendigo Bank Cats travel to Hobart next Saturday for round two of the VFL season to take on Tasmania at Bellerive Oval from 2pm, where several players are expected to make their return from injury.

Sandringham 8.5, 16.8, 19.10, 23.11 (149)
Geelong 5.5, 5.10, 16.12, 20.19 (139)
Best:
Geelong: Johnson, Barnes, Byrne, Playfair, West, Davenport
Goals:
Geelong: Johnson 5, Urie 3, Davenport, Barnes 2, Spencer, Hogan 2, Hunt, Byrne, Djerrkura, Grima