Losing Harry Dean to head knock in the second term hurt the Blues. They had to shuffle the decks, throwing Lewis Young back, which then meant Harry McKay was needed as a back-up ruckman.
This allowed Geelong to balance the books in the midfield and on the scoreboard, trailing by three points at half-time.
Blues defender Harry Dean after taking a shin to the face.AFL Photos
They shifted Oisin Mullin off Sam Walsh and onto Jagga Smith, and Mark O’Connor started shadowing Patrick Cripps. Mitch Edwards began winning the ruck.