INJURED CATS SNATCH 'SOUL DESTROYING' DEFEAT FROM JAWS OF VICTORY; SANDERSON SIGNS OFF
Ben Jensen 9 September 2005

By BEN JENSEN SYDNEY SWANS snatched victory from Geelong snatched victory in literally the last seconds at the SCG tonight. Former Magpie Nick Davis single-handedly won the game for Sydney, kicking all four of their final quarter goals. Geelong could only manage one goal and despite spending an equal amount of time up forward.

Geelong was hit by injuries during the game, with Cameron Mooney, Steven King, Josh Hunt, Gary Ablett, Tom Harley and Jimmy Bartel all taking hits, with King spending the last quarter and a half off the ground. Ablett and Harley pushed on while Mooney returned to the field late in the game.

It was certainly a game that shouldn't have been lost. The Cats had the lead with less than five minutes to go, yet could not hold on to posession to get down for one more scoring shot.

Nick Davis pounced twice in the last minutes, for two goals.

Had they hung on and won, the Cats would have struggled to field a competitive side against the Saints next Friday night. So on the bright side, Geelong supporters can put their hard-earned into something else other than the AFL's coffers next Friday night.

Brenton Sanderson's career is now over, while always likely to end in a defeat, this is certainly the cruelest way to go out. Others may join him on the way out the door in the club's spring clean.

While tonight's loss was heartbreaking the players tried hard, and certainly felt the pain. None less than the big hair cat Cameron Mooney, visibly distressed as he left the field of play.

The Cattery will now take a break until trade week. Thanks to all loyal readers for your patronage and support. Thankyou to Mark Heenan for his weekly articles after the pressers; and thanks to the Geelong Football Club for entertaining me throughout the season.

SYDNEY: 2.2 2.6 3.12 7.14 (56) DEFEATED
GEELONG: 2.6 5.8 6.11 7.11 (53)

GOALS – SYDNEY: O'Loughlan, O'Keefe 1
GEELONG: S Johnson 2 Gardiner, Kelly, Playfair, Rooke, D. Johnson 1

BEST – SYDNEY: Nick Davis, Nick Davis, Nick Davis
GEELONG: Rooke, Scarlett, Bartel, Ling, Harley