CATS UNABLE TO WIELD AXE; THREE CHANGES FOR SAINTS CLASH
Ben Jensen 4 August 2005

ALTHOUGH GEELONG COACH MARK THOMPSON may wish to wield the proverbial axe to the team that has suffered back to back defeats at the hands of Essendon and the Bulldogs, with only 28 players to choose from that wasn't much of an option if staying competitive is still an objective. This round's VFL side is composed chiefly from VCFL players along with six AFL listed players.

Out of last week's side are the injured pair Steven King and Cameron Mooney, and the omitted Shannon Byrnes. Returning is forward David Haynes, who has kicked ten goals in the VFL the past two rounds; ruckman Mark Blake for his second AFL game; and veteran defender Brenton Sanderson for what could be one of his final matches for the club.

King misses due to a finger injury that required surgery while Mooney received a knee in the back from an Essendon opponent in the final stages of last Friday night's game.

Geelong could have developed a handy three or four goal lead over the Bombers after the first term, likewise in the second term. In the third quarter Essendon forward Scott Lucas booted four of his team's six goals, almost single-handedly blowing the Cats away. It wasn't quite the thrashing of the week before, but the Cats never looked in the game during the final term. The margin of thirteen points slightly flattered the Cats, who kicked two late goals.

ESSENDON: 3.2, 7.5, 13.7, 16.11 (107) DEFEATED
GEELONG: 4.4, 8.7, 11.12, 13.16 (94)

GOALS – ESSENDON: Lucas 6, Lloyd 3, Hird 2, Dyson, Richards, Stanton, Hille, M. Johnson
GEELONG: Kingsley 3, Ablett 2, Kelly 2, Bartel, S. Johnson, Chapman, Ottens, Riccardi, Milburn
BEST – ESSENDON: Lucas, Lovett-Murray, Hird, Peverill, Fletcher, M. Johnson, Welsh
GEELONG: Corey, Ling, Bartel, Tenace, Chapman, Scarlett