CATS IN CONTROL AT HALF TIME MINUS RICCARDI AND NATHAN ABLETT
Ben Jensen 9 September 2005

By BEN JENSEN GEELONG is in control of their semi final against the Sydney Swans at the SCG tonight, taking a twenty point lead into the half time break. While the Cats squandered many an opportunity and should have had a much bigger lead, the Swans are a basketcase, not even kicking a goal in the second quarter in front of a rapid home crowd.

Having said that, the Cats are playing fantastic accountable football, in front of a fantastic and very vocal bunch of travelling fans.

Barry Hall so far has a total of one mark on the wing, one kick, one handball and about three hundred expletives directed at his own players. Matthew Scarlett's giving the bad man an absolute toweling.

While the Cats are playing positive footy, their Swans opponents seem more intent keeping the ball out of bounds.

Peter Riccardi and Nathan Ablett were replaced in the selected side by Charlie Gardiner and David Johnson. Gardiner was dropped after last week's win over Melbourne while Johnson, sporting a Paul Chapman style crewcut, returns from a hamstring injury.

HALF TIME SCORE

GEELONG: 2.6 5.8 (38)
SYDNEY: 2.2 2.6 (18)

GOALS – GEELONG: Gardiner, S Johnson, Kelly, Playfair, Rooke 1
SYDNEY: O'Loughlan, O'Keefe 1

BEST – GEELONG: Rooke, Scarlett, Sanderson
SYDNEY: Not Barry Hall!