Geelong into VFL Grand Final
September 15 2002

Geelong 12.20.92 d Werribee 9.11.65

This afternoon at TEAC Oval in Port Melbourne Geelong defeated Werribee (Western Bulldog's Affiliate) in a Preliminary final by 27 points. Geelong faces Port Melbourne in a rematch of the first qualifying final, after the Boroughs just got over the line against Coburg in the other Preliminary Final on Saturday. The Grand Final will be played at Optus Oval.

At one stage in the 2nd quarter the Cats, who could only manage 5 behinds in the opening quarter, trailed by 19 points. But they were a touch in front at half time, and 30-odd points in front at the final change. Port Melbourne's coach demanded that his players take risks and "win by a point or lose by 90", to which his players responded to bring the margin back to just 7 points. But the Cats powered away and were simply too professional, the margin blowing out to 27 points late in the game.

Best on ground for Geelong was James Rahilly, closely followed by Josh Hunt, Paul Chapman, and James Bartel. Most inspiring play of the day was when David Johnson took possession just outside half back, took a few bounces down the wing, evaded several would be tacklers before coolly slotting through a checkside kick from 25m out.

Steven Johnson and Danny O'Brien kicked two goals each for Geelong. Veterans David Mensch, Tim McGrath and Mitchell White were very solid at both ends of the ground.