Geelong came from behind to notch a one-point win against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, taking the lead for the first time all day in the final minute.
North gave up a 32-point lead late in the third quarter, conceding six of the last seven goals to fall 17.12 (112) to 17.9 (111) on Sunday afternoon.
Having trailed all day, the Cats pushed into attack with little over a minute remaining, with George Horlin-Smith putting his head over the ball and drawing a high tackle from North ruckman Braydon Preuss.
The midfielder converted his set shot from 45m, giving the Cats a lead that they hung on to desperately in the final seconds to start their season 2-0.
It was heartbreak for the winless Kangaroos, who looked like prevailing from the outset, but went into their shells in the final quarter when the game was on the line, kicking just 1.1 in the last term.
Trailing by 25 points at the final change, the Cats played with desperation not seen often through the proceeding three quarters, with Darcy Lang's running goal from 50m bringing scores level after 17 minutes.
North Melbourne midfielder Shaun Higgins (27 possessions, nine inside 50s and two goals) was best on ground, having set up the Kangaroos' early lead.
He, like his team, faded in the fourth quarter, however, as the Cats' momentum gathered.
Geelong started the game in a slumber after their round one trip to Perth, allowing North Melbourne to slice through them with the ball and kick five of the first six goals.
The Kangaroos were also harder at the contest and more switched on defensively, laying 18 tackles to six in the first quarter and setting the trend for the match.
The danger man was Higgins, who went inside 50 five times in the first term and set alarm bells off in the Cats' coaches box when he converted on the run from 50m late in the first quarter.
Geelong was also being beaten in the ruck, despite the late withdrawal of North star Todd Goldstein, with replacement Preuss throwing his weight around at stoppages.
The aggressive big man gave North a significant aerial advantage – going on to win the hit-outs 54-21 against Rhys Stanley and Mark Blicavs – but he is likely to be sidelined for one match after a crude knee in the back of Jackson Thurlow.
North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said it was a difficult result for the players and coaches, but there was a lot for the team to be encouraged by.
"We've just got to work on a number of things and probably the one that stands out the most is just icing the game when you're in control," the coach said.
"We didn't do that well enough and we knew what we were going to get from a really capable Geelong side and they didn't disappoint us."
GEELONG 2.1 7.6 12.7 17.10 (112)
NORTH MELBOURNE 6.2 8.6 16.8 17.9 (111)
GOALS
Geelong: Hawkins 4, Menzel 4, Horlin-Smith 2, Parfitt, Thurlow, Duncan, Dangerfield, Henderson, Blicavs, Lang
North Melbourne: Brown 3, Higgins 2, Thomas 2 , Turner 2, McDonald, Daw, Dumont, Gibson, Macmillan, Garner, Simpkin, Williams
BEST
Geelong: Dangerfield, Menzel, Selwood, Hawkins, Mackie, Tuohy
North Melbourne: Higgins, Cunnington, Preuss, Tarrant, Brown, Dumont
INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
North Melbourne: Todd Goldstein (ankle) replaced in the selected side by Braydon Preuss, Daw (knee)
Reports: Braydon Preuss (North Melbourne) for rough conduct on Jackson Thurlow (Geelong) in the second quarter
Umpires: Stevic, Hay, Pannell
Official crowd: 30,917 at Etihad Stadium
