Sydney may have been trying to reach Geraldton after the action. If so, someone may still have had enough navigation, propulsion, and command capacity to attempt a return to port. Geraldton offered facilities that might assist a damaged cruiser, making it a more useful destination than the nearest stretch of coastline. The apparent course could also have been accidental, so it cannot establish that command and navigation remained effective.
Notable Point · 1:59:12-2:01:01
A possible attempt to reach Geraldton
Sydney's final course may indicate an effort by a damaged but still directed ship to reach Geraldton.