CATS EDGE OUT LIONS
Ben Jensen 3 May 2008

By Ben Jensen GEELONG defeated Brisbane by twenty-seven points at Skilled Stadium today, surviving a spirited challenge by the Lions after scores were almost leveled early in the final term. Brownlow favourite Gary Ablett was a late withdrawal after suffering general soreness all over, including a calf muscle, after his unsportinglike treatment by various Fremantle Dockers last Friday night. Ablett's place was taken by Max Rooke, getting the nod ahead of other two emergencies Brent Prismall and Travis Varcoe. To be fair, the Lions had their own significant injury worries - Jonathan Brown and Simon Black took no part in the match.

GEELONG 4.1 7.6 11.8 15.15 (105) DEFEATED
BRISBANE 5.6 6.8 10.9 11.12 (78)

GOALS
GEELONG: Bartel 2, Gamble 2, Stokes 2, S. Johnson 2, Corey, Hawkins, Rooke, Mooney, Chapman, Mackie, Milburn
BRISBANE: Clark 3, Power 2, Patfull, Bradshaw, Harding, Corrie, Rischitelli, Hooper

BEST
GEELONG: Scarlett, Bartel, Kelly, Corey, Mackie, Milburn
BRISBANE: Brennan, Patfull, Power, Adcock, Merrett, MacDonald

UMPIRES: Vozzo, Kamolins, Meredith

CROWD: 23,388 at Skilled Stadium, Geelong

Cats coach Mark 'Bomber' Thompson was not at all pleased with the opening quarter but still saw things he liked. "I liked the fact we reset our goals and to play that sort of footy for the last three quarters was a real positive in our eyes".

Rookie ruckman Shane Mumford impressed at least one match-goer, who believed the past two weeks he handled giant ruckman in Aaron Sandilands (last week) and Matthew Leuenberger (this week) much better than Mark Blake, who seems to be tentative going into ruck contests "knowing he'll get a knee in the guts". Watch this space on that one.

AFL PREMIERS VICTORY PACK - FOUR DVD'S - THREE FINALS PLUS SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

NOW AVAILABLE

DVD $99.95, PLUS P+H