CATS TOO GOOD FOR SWANS IN WORKMANLIKE 51 POINT WIN
Anthony Jensen 5 May 2009

By Anthony Jensen AFL 2009 ROUND 7 GEELONG CATS V SYDNEY SWANS KARDINIA PARK experienced relatively tropical conditions on Saturday afternoon compared to a couple of weeks ago, the better weather drawing a healthy crowd of a touch over 22,000 to see the Ablettless Cats post a solid win over the Sydney Swans who haven't won down here this millennium, a trend that looks set to continue for another couple of years at least.

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GEELONG 1.5, 8.7, 12.10, 17.14 (116) DEFEATED
SYDNEY 1.2, 4.3, 7.4,10.5 (65)

GOALS
GEELONG: S Johnson 4, Stokes 3, Mooney 3, Hawkins 3, Bartel, Rooke, Byrnes, Kelly
SYDNEY: O'Loughlin 3, Goodes 2, Grundy 2, Moore, J Bolton, Meredith

BEST
GEELONG: Selwood, Corey, S Johnson, Scarlett, Stokes, Kelly, Mooney
SYDNEY: Goodes, O'Loughlin, O'Keefe, Buchanan, J Bolton

CROWD: 22,050 at Skilled Stadium, Geelong

UMPIRES
FIELD: Matt Stevic (9) Scott McLaren (11) Jason Armstrong (26) EM: Shane Stewart (10)
BOUNDARY: Adam Coote Matthew Payton John Morris Shane Jones
GOAL: Peter Gonis Luke Walker EM: Steve Stirling

INJURIES
GEELONG: TBC
SYDNEY: TBC

REPORTS: Nil

PREMATCH ODDS: Geelong $1.05 - $1.12; Sydney $6.25 - 8.00 (Told you to back the Cats)

While the ground was bathed in sunshine in the first quarter, it was raining behinds as Steve Johnson in particular couldn't seem to find the target often enough early, kicking 1 goals 3 for the term. The Swans, as they're prone to do with Paul Roos at the helm, bottled the pill up in stoppages close to the boundary and the game threatened to become an ugly one.

However, perhaps inspired by Captain Tom Harley's return or the unlikely fan up in the corporate boxes displaying a sign saying "Go STICK #35", Paul Chapman began getting on the bottom of a few packs and the linking handball play, that we have come to expect from the Cats, started to emerge. The two Joels (Corey and Selwood) took over the ball-magnet reins from Gary Ablett, both finishing with 34 touches.

Steve Johnson exploded in the second term and gave the fans, including this humble public servant in particular, something to cheer about. Max Rooke took two fine grabs on opposite wings and looked to be relishing in the freedom of his sweeping role, while 2nd and 3rd efforts and tackles from lesser lights Shane Mumford and Shannon Byrnes allowed the Cats to hold their heads even higher. The Sydney backmen had no answer for this midfield pressure nor Johnson's shuffling speed as he entered the main break with 4 goals next to his name, giving Geelong a 28-point lead.

Dual Brownlow winner Adam Goodes showed us why he's that good in the third term, moving into the midfield to commence winning his own ball and bringing his teammates into the contest, with the returned Cameron Ling's attention focused on curtailing, rather than stopping, Goodes' influence. Michael O'loughlin (3 goals) and Heath "Reg" Grundy (2 goals) were the lone shining lights among the Swans' forwards, who were ably contained by the blue and white hooped defenders, most notably Matty Scarlett who wore an out of touch Barry Hall like a cheap (albeit 4 time All-Australian) suit.

In contrast, the Geelong forwards were firing with Tom Hawkins, Mathew Stokes and Cameron Mooooney all snagging 3 majors. Tomahawk was especially damaging with his long leads, accumulating 10 marks in a confidence-building outing.

Capping off the 51-point win was a deserved goal to James Kelly who had worked hard all day for his 21 touches and 5 tackles.

Tune in next week at the same Cat place, same Cat time as North Melbourne travel down the highway in a vain attempt to resurrect their woeful start to the season.

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YOUR SAY HOW GOOD WERE THE CATS?

READER COMMENTS

YOUR SAY

11/5/2009, 21:27
Fierce Red Panda, Ellenbrook Western Australia
"Tune in next week at the same Cat place, same Cat time as North Melbourne travel down the highway in a vain attempt to resurrect their woeful start to the season."

Let's not get too cocky now shall we?

They did win last night, and they do tend to stick it to us when they play us.