Cats no match for Swans

Ben Jensen 28 April 2018, AFL Round 6 2018, Geelong Cats v Sydney Swans SYDNEY made it three wins from their last three games at Geelong, their superior first and fourth quarters sufficient to deliver a sixteen point victory at GMHBA Stadium. Brandan Parfitt was a late change with a foot injury, reportedly a stress response but no confirmed officially, replaced by Zach Guthrie.

The Swans dominated the first term but ‘only’ managed four goals along with six behinds, the Cats trailing by 15 points at quarter time. In the second the Cats had the upper hand booting four unanswered goals, reversing the fortunes into the half time break. The Cats led by 20 points for much of the third, but in the final quarter the Swans woke up.

Despite kicking no goals in the second quarter and one in the third Sydney made light work to overhaul the Cats’ lead. The Swans kicked the opening goal in the final term but the Cats soon answered back. It would be the last Cats’ goal of the match however, Sydney slamming on the final six goals to go home with a well deserved victory.

Jordan Murdoch was reported for a bump on Swan Isaac Heeney. Swan Will Hayward kicked three goals, Robbie Fox two (along with taking a hanger); Oliver Florent and Ben Ronke doing the same other than taking the hanger. For the Cats James Parsons and Tom Hawkins kicked two each.

31,036 attended, about what the Cats expected, though less than the current ground capacity. The VFL side are playing as we publish, at Casey Fields, up by 22 points deep into the final term.

SYDNEY: 4.6, 4.7, 5.10, 12.13 (85) DEFEATED
GEELONG: 2.3, 6.7, 9.8, 10.9 (69)

GOALS
SYDNEY: Hayward 3, Fox 2, Florent 2, Ronke 2, Parker, Jones, Rohan
GEELONG: Parsons 2, Hawkins 2, Gregson, Stanley, Kelly, Menegola, Dangerfield, Selwood

BEST
SYDNEY: Kennedy, Sinclair, Lloyd, Heeney, McVeigh, Jones
GEELONG: Kelly, Duncan, Selwood, Menegola, Hawkins

INJURIES
SYDNEY: George Horlin-Smith (concussion)
GEELONG: –

CHANGES
SYDNEY: –
GEELONG: Zach Guthrie in for Brandan Parfitt (foot)

REPORTS
SYDNEY: Nil
GEELONG: Jordan Murdoch for rough conduct on Isaac Heeney in the second quarter

UMPIRES: Harris, McInerney, Stevic

CROWD: 31,036 at GMHBA Stadium

GEELONG TEAM

IN: Tom Hawkins, Cory Gregson
OUT: Dan Menzel (groin), Jackson Thurlow

B: Zach Tuohy, Jake Kolodjashnij, Jed Bews
HB: Tom Stewart, Jack Henry, Jordan Cunico
C: Scott Selwood, Joel Selwood, Mark Blicavs
HF: Sam Menegola, Esava Ratugolea, Lachie Fogarty
F: James Parsons, Tom Hawkins, Brandan Parfitt
FOLL: Rhys Stanley, Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan
INT: Cory Gregson, George Horlin-Smith, Tim Kelly, Jordan Murdoch
EMER: Stewart Crameri, Charlie Constable, Zach Guthrie, Jackson Thurlow [elevated in place of Scott Selwood]; Zac Smith (added to emergencies)

SYDNEY TEAM
IN: Robbie Fox, Daniel Robertson, Ben Ronke
OUT: Dan Hennebery (groin), Lance Franklin (heel), Dean Towers (other injury)

B: Harry Marsh, Heath Grundy, Nick Smith
HB: Zak Jones, Dane Rampe, Robbie Fox
C: Jake Lloyd, Luke Parker, Callum Mills
HF: Jarrad McVeigh, Gary Rohan, George Hewett
F: Tom Papley, Isaac Heeney, Oliver Florent
FOLL: Callum Sinclair, Kieren Jack, Josh P. Kennedy
INT: Harry Cunningham, Will Hayward, Daniel Robinson, Ben Ronke
EMER: Aliir Aliir, Tom McCartin, Nic Newman, Colin O’Riordan