The Cats faithful were rewarded for their trust, while the doubting Thomases were handed another reminder of the power of the Geelong gospel.
Another chapter was written in Geelong’s story as it accounted for North Melbourne in Kardinia Park’s first Friday night game.
With coach Chris Scott preaching the need for persistence, it was his older disciples who took the message and spread it to the masses on hand.
There was no miracle, but veterans Jimmy Bartel and James Kelly showed their younger acolytes how it is done.
Both featured in key centre clearances early in the game giving Geelong the upper hand, a position it occupied with pride for the remainder of the contest.
It was an impressive display given the up and down preceding month, topped by another victory over Hawthorn but marked by significant losses to Port Adelaide and Fremantle.
Throw in a lacklustre win over Richmond and a bye and the doubters started to wonder. A loss would have brought them out ready to burn their wooden crosses.
And all this was achieved without chief evangelist Steve Johnson, who now benefits from a week’s rest to tackle the Sydney Swans on Thursday night at the SCG.
It sets the scene for an intriguing examination of the respective footballing doctrines espoused by preacher John Longmire and pastor Chris Scott to see who sings their battle hymn at the end.
