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GEELONG ALL CLASS AT THE DOME GEELONG accounted for the Western Bulldogs in style this afternoon in front of 31,811 punters at a sunny Telstra Dome. The Cats were rewarded with a trophy courtesy of Origin Energy, the 'Western Victoria' cup. Now, if I could only get my $50 for signing my life away to Origin. Geelong holds seventh spot, four points ahead of next week's opponents the Kangaroos. Geelong now has six wins and five losses, the Kangaroos having one less win. In a solid team effort, Geelong had six players with more than 20 possessions, and just three with less than 10. The match opened up with a good goal to Cameron Mooney. This was followed by a Kent Kingsley miss before the Bulldogs kicked the next two goals for a narrow lead. Until of course Gary 'YABLETT!' Ablett booted the first of his four brilliant goals. Geelong went missing for a five to ten minute period, long enough for the Bulldogs to capitalise and build a modest lead. But just before quarter time, Kent Kingsley kicked a goal with about a minute to go. A minute, in fact less than that was all Gary Ablett needed to boot his second goal to level the scores just prior to quarter time. Cameron Ling was felled behind play, an incident that may attract some scrutiny during video review. The second term opened up with sloppy play from both sides, ending up in a ping pong contest with no scoring. Eventually a Josh Hunt mistake resulted in an easy goal to Patrick Bowden who put the Dogs a goal up. Luke Darcy seemingly suffered a serious injury straight afterwards, stretched off after injuring his knee. But Darcy was to return to the field a quarter later and contribute. The Dogs leapt to a two goal lead thanks to Brad Johnson, who was also to be taken from the field with a serious injury, a broken arm. But it only took barely 25seconds for the name YABLETT to once again be yelled, booting another inspirational goal. He dodged two opponents to dob through his third goal, on the left foot. Ablett got on the end of a Ben Graham and Kent Kingsley chain of kicks and handballs. Kent Kingsley, as he does so often, kicked truly from a very difficult position, from near the boundary line, to peg the Dogs' lead back to 1 point. Cameron Mooney nearly snatched back the lead, but could only manage to level the scores at 33 points apiece. Gary Ablett set up a goal to 'Charlie' Chapman, roving "like a ferret" according to Rex Hunt. Chapman received a free kick, and converted for a goal to go out to a 6 point lead. By this stage Peter Riccardi was beginning to stamp his influence on the game. Riccardi is fast becoming THE best impact player in the AFL, coming off the bench in bursts He oozes class - full credit must go to Peter and the coaching staff for the way he's been case managed this season. You can't buy experience, as Geelong found out in the pre-season, something that 'Ricco' has plenty of - approaching 250 games. Just prior to half time, Robert Murphy for the Bulldogs kicked a terrific goal from the boundary line, leveling the scores one more. At half time the score was 7.3.45 apiece. Half time stats leaders for the Cats were Jarad Rooke (4 kicks, 8 handballs, 5marks), Peter Riccardi (7k, 4h, 3m), Josh Hunt (6k, 4h) and Gary Ablett (5k, 4h, 3 goals). To open the third quarter the Bulldogs snatched the lead back, courtesy of a Mitchell Hahn behind. But it wasn't long before the Cats pounced, Steven King kicking a long goal. What followed was nothing short of an avalanche for the Cats in what was to be a seven goal quarter. James Kelly, James Bartel and Gary Ablett would all goal in succession before the Dogs could peg another back through Nathan Eagleton, the lead now 12 points. But the Cats had all the answers, matching the single Bulldogs goal immediately through a combination of Steven King from the centre bounce, Cameron Ling, Riccardi, Ablett and finally Paul Chapman who kicked truly. Geelong's backline rebounded almost every Bulldogs sortie to their forward line. Cameron Ling booted his first goal of the day and seventh for the season after marking inside 50 and playing on. Ling was to have an absolute stellar third quarter. The lead now stood at 23 points. Robert Murphy kicked his second but that was once again matched immediately by the Cats, Ling kicking his second for the quarter and the day. The lead at three quarter time was thirty points, Geelong 14.6.90 to the Western Bulldogs' 9.6.60. The Fat Lady had sung a few minutes before the three quarter time siren. Paul Chapman opened up the forth and final quarter with a great mark, and kicked a handy goal. Surely the Bulldogs were out of it now? If they weren't already. The lead was now 36 points. Any play from here on end was to be in 'junk time'. After several minutes of scrappy play, Patrick Bowden eventually booted his second goal for the game. James Kelly increased Geelong's lead to 38 points, one more than my own pre-game prediction last week of 37 points. But you had the feeling it would be more than that by the end. Soon after Steven King quietly limped off, sparking concerns by some that he had injured his hamstring. Ben Graham kicked the last and one of the most enjoyable goals of the game, booting a MONSTER drop punt from inside the centre square. The kick easily cleared the pack in front of goal, delighting the crowd who sung 'We are Geelong, the greatest team of all' in the dyeing few minutes. The final score was 17.11.13, a 46 point victory over the Western Bulldogs, 10.7.67. As mentioned earlier, Geelong host the ninth placed Kangaroos next Sunday at Skilled Stadium, in a battle for the top eight. With a public holiday on the Monday, punters are advised to buy their tickets early if they haven't already done so. And it isn't too late to buy a Membership! AFTER ALL there is still seven home games to go. Don't ask what the Club can do you for - but what YOU can do for the Club! (Apologies to the estate of JFK.) GEELONG: 4.2, 7.3, 14.6, 17.11 (113) DEFEATED GOALS: GEELONG: Ablett 4, Kingsley, Chapman 3, Ling 2,
King, Graham, Kelly, Gardiner, Mooney 1 LINK: Official Stats on AFL.com.au VFL ROUND 10: GEELONG DEFEAT WERRIBEE THE CATS now have a 5 wins for 4 losses record, easily accounting for Western Bulldogs affiliate, the Werribee Tigers, at Skilled Stadium. David Loats booted four goals for the Cats while Corey Enright was named best on ground, having 35 odd possessions, while fellow midfielders James Byrne, James Rahilly also starred. Next week Geelong face Kangaroos affiliate Port Melbourne
in a curtain raiser to the AFL match, beginning at 10:30AM. Port Melbourne
are on top of the ladder, having just the one loss. GEELONG 4.2 7.8 11.14 17.16 (118) DEFEATED GOALS GEELONG: Loats 4, Spriggs 3, Thurley
2, McCarthy 2, Chambers, Enright, S.Johnson, Lonergan, Smith, S.Byrnes. BEST GEELONG: Enright, Rahilly, J.Byrne, Loats, Lonergan,
Spriggs, McCarthy, Mackie. |
GEELONG'S LATEST RISING STAR: BRENT MOLONEY
RISING STAR BRENT MOLONEY - GEELONG'S THIRD NOMINATION IN TEN ROUNDS. NOT ONLY THAT, HE'S A 'NICE YOUNG MAN' TO BOOT (CLICK FOR FULL SIZE)
GARY ABLETT KICKED FOUR GOALS WHEN THE CATS NEEDED THEM THE MOST BRAD JOHNSON SUFFERED A SEASON THREATENING INJURY AFTER THIS CAMERON MOONEY BUMP (CLICK FOR FULL SIZE)
BEN GRAHAM PUNCHES THE BALL FROM THE PLAYER GEELONG FORTUNATELY DID NOT RECRUIT TO TAKE HIS SPOT (CLICK FOR FULL SIZE)
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