CATS EARN TENTH WIN ON TROT OVER MAGPIES
Ben Jensen 14 July 2007

By Ben Jensen AFL ROUND 15 GEELONG V COLLINGWOOD GEELONG stormed home over Collingwood for their tenth win on the trot, earning three game buffer on the top of the AFL Ladder in front of a bumper crowd of 85,497. Bleating Magpie supporters may have flooded talkback radio following the match but there's no denying the Cats were the better side on the day. Cameron Ling's 150th game was a blinder, while Jimmy Bartel, in his 100th, was quiet but his only goal of the day at the 20th minute mark of the final quarter put the result beyond doubt.

Best for Geelong was Matthew Scarlett, and not far behind him was Captain and fellow backman Tom Harley. Gary Ablett and Paul Chapman were in it all day in the midfield or up forward and Steve Johnson was dangerous. Big Hairy Cat Cameron Mooney would have been named best on ground had he converted a couple of his four behinds into goals. Mooney's only goal was Geelong's second of the day, but he didn't add to the tally.

GEELONG 4.3 7.5 9.10 11.14 (80) DEFEATED
COLLINGWOOD 2.4 6.5 7.8 9.10 (64)

GOALS

GEELONG: C Ling 2 S Johnson 2 C Mooney M Stokes C Enright D Wojcinski J Selwood P Chapman J Bartel
COLLINGWOOD: T Cloke 4 P Medhurst T Lockyer S Burns N Maxwell A Rocca

BEST

GEELONG: M Scarlett G Ablett P Chapman C Ling S Johnson T Harley A Mackie J Corey
COLLINGWOOD: T Cloke T Lockyer S Pendlebury P Licuria S Burns S Wakelin J Fraser

Collingwood started the match out of the blocks and kicked the opening two goals, the first what was to become a trademark long bomb by impressive forward Travis Cloke. Paul Medhurst kicked the other, his only goal for the day. The Cats soon scratched back, kicking four goals for the quarter to lead by eleven points at quarter time. Geelong's opening goal for the day was another gritty goal from Vice Captain Cameron Ling, who once more wandered down to the forward line while playing a tagging role, today on Dane Swan.

Geelong kicked the opening goal of the second term through Steve Johnson. Although Geelong dominated the opening few minutes, Collingwood then kicked a series of three unanswered goals to suddenly be back in front, courtesy of yet another LONG goal from Travis Cloke. The mood in aisle N13 was palpable, as the mostly Geelong enclave suddenly discovered the dozens of Collingwood supporters coming out of the 'woodwork. But the comeback was short lived, David Wojcinski chancing a snap at goal with six minutes to go. Joel Selwood converted a set shot shortly after for a rare goal, giving the Cats a two goal lead. Ruckman Nick Maxwell kicked the final goal of the half to peg Geelong's lead back to just six points.

The third quarter was a battle of attrition. Geelong kicked two goals to Collingwood's one, the first to Paul Chapman inside the opening thirty seconds. When Cameron Mooney marked just outside the goalsquare a minute later, for what looked certain to be his second goal, it looked as if the Cats were going to skip away from the Magpies. But Mooney missed.

Collingwood eventually answered back through Anthony Rocca, who started the second half on the interchange bench and had an otherwise forgettable day, easily out-posted by star Geelong fullback Matthew Scarlett. (And if Scarlett isn't named All-Australian I'm going to give the game away!) The only other goal for the quarter was Cameron Ling's second, this time courtesy of some good evasion by Steve Johnson, who provided the waiting Ling with a handpass in the goalsquare. The Magpies kicked three behinds for the quarter while the Cats had five, three of them from Cameron Mooney.

With Geelong's lead just fourteen points and Collingwood possessing dangerous forwards in Cloke, Leon Davis and Medhurst, the stage was set for a big finish. Cloke would kick the opening goal of the term, another perfect kick from the right forward pocket (right side for a left footer), the lead now down to single figures again. But the Cats, as they should, struck back. The now reliable set shot, Steve Johnson, kicked a set shot at the eleventh minute mark to restore the double-figure lead.

The only other scare was once more provided by Travis Cloke, kicking his fourth, a set shot from just inside fifty, from near the boundary line. Jimmy Bartel, once more quiet after his concussion a fortnight ago, took a mark close to goal and kicked truly from a tight angle, twelfth goal for the season.

Special thanks for the Metrocats, and of course 'Jumping' Jack Hawkins for putting on an excellent pre-game function in the Ryder Room - you've won us over for life now.

VFL NEWS - SHOCK DEFEAT BY CASEY SCORPIONS

THE BENDIGO BANK CATS lost top spot on the TruEnergy VFL ladder with a one point loss to Casey at Cranbourne's Casey Fields on Sunday. Geelong, originally the home side but giving away the home advantage due to fears for the Skilled Stadium surface, led by just under six goals at half time but that lead was cut to just thirteen points by three quarter time. Talls Tom Lonergan and Todd Grima kicked three goals apiece while for Casey Fergus Watts also booted three.

LINK: VFL DRAW

CASEY 2.2 4.6 9.8 12.12 (84) DEFEATED
GEELONG 7.2 10.3 12.3 13.5 (83)

GOALS
CASEY: F. Watts 3, N. Carmody 2, B. Voss 2, T. Makepeace, B. Brooks, R. Eddy, D. Armitage, J. Sweeney
GEELONG: T. Lonergan 3, T. Grima 3, J. Davenport 2, L. Forbes, T. West, J. Walker, N. Djerrkura, M. Firman

BEST
CASEY: N. Carmody, M. Ferguson, B. Voss, S. Harrison, F. Watts, J. Gwilt
GEELONG: J. Davenport, M. Firman, S. Byrnes, S. King, D. Johnson, S. Owen